Joao Fonseca on the GOAT debat: "Novak Djokovic may be the best, but Roger Federer is the greatest"

Monday, 24 February 2025 at 18:30

Joao Fonseca chose Roger Federer as the GOAT and named him his biggest sports idol. The Brazilian also had words for Novak Djokovic after his tough elimination at his home tournament, the Rio Open. After finishing his run in the Golden Swing, Fonseca is now preparing for his next challenge on hard courts at Indian Wells.

The 18-year-old sensation has been in the spotlight over the past few months after winning the Next Gen ATP Finals, the Canberra Challenger, and the Argentina Open, as well as securing his first victory over a top-10 player at the Australian Open, defeating Russian Andrey Rublev.

From Next Gen champion to big stages

The teenager became the youngest player inside the top 100 and has climbed the rankings at an astonishing pace, reaching a career-high of world No. 68 just a week ago. There were high expectations for his performance at the Rio Open, but he was upset in the first round by Alexandre Muller.

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In a recent interview with O Globo, Fonseca was asked to name his tennis idol and the greatest player of all time. “Federer. There’s no way to change that,” he said. “People can say that Djokovic is the greatest of all time, but for me there’s no way. Djokovic may be the best of all time, but Federer is the greatest. Unmatched.”

Fonseca also discussed his biggest strengths on the court: "Technically, it’s definitely my forehand," the Brazilian star said. "But I think apart from that, it’s definitely my maturity—realizing the important moments in a match, knowing when to play a certain way, and when to be more courageous."

Fonseca achieved his first victory in the main draw of a Grand Slam after defeating No. 10 seed Andrey Rublev.

“This part of maturing on the court, when I have to have posture, is the part where I’m best. Showing that I’m strong when I’m tired, this mental part is one of my best weapons.”

Fonseca, who is preparing for his next tournament in Indian Wells, also spoke about the key improvements that allowed him to transition from juniors to competing against the best players in the world. “I would say that my serve has also improved, my first serve in particular, which is something I used to fail at a lot, and now I’m more consistent.”

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“And my consistency in general, I’m more solid. Before, I was a kid who hit really hard, but also made a lot of mistakes. Now I’m combining strength, power, with consistency,” he added. “I’m being more consistent, making better movements, so I believe that physique and consistency are the things I’ve improved the most.”

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Una publicación compartida por Joao Fonseca (@joaoffonseca)

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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