Bill Simons
We love phenoms. They lift our spirits. The future’s in good hands – yes?
They touch our imagination. Where did this bright prospect come from? How far will he go?
Teens often light up tennis: Nadal, McEnroe, Hingis, Serena, Evert, Seles, Graf, Alcaraz – pick ‘em.
Enter Brazilian Joao Fonseca, who only three years ago was just another breathless kid hunting for autographs at the Rio Open. Today, the 18-year-old sensation fearlessly came from behind in the third set to down Scot Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
Broadcaster Nick McCarvel told fans to, “Say hello to one of the new superstars of tennis. Watch out – he’s bringing some Rio vibes.”
Fonseca appeals. His hair is wavy and unkempt, like a legitimate teen. His face is open, like an unafraid innocent. He’s modest. He says everything is new and he’s trying to get used to it all. He works to stay focused and not be swayed by all the puffery. His team is important to him.
The kid, who won the Next Gen tourney in Saudi Arabia and the Argentina Open, has won 20 of his 23 tour-level matches. He’s living the life – “Oh, the joys of youth.” At one level, he’s happy just to bump into Alcaraz or chat with Djokovic.
All the while, questions swirl: will he be the next big thing for South American tennis? Will he reach the very top? Announcer Andrew Krasny didn’t hesitate to fuel the hype. On court, he spoke of the emergence of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray and asked, “Are we witnessing the beginning? I think it’s safe to say we are.”
When Inside Tennis asked Joao what are the one or two best things about his game and what he loves most about tennis, he didn’t blink. “My forehand and the way I think – my mental part, it’s quite good for my age.
“What I love about the sport is that tennis gives you many opportunities. If you lose a point, there’s going to be another point, and you can lose again. You can even play worse than the other guy, but still win. Tennis is a technical, physical, and mental game. It’s very good. I’ve loved this sport since I was eight.”
And tennis might love this kid until 2048. But, hold on – let’s pump the brakes, and, for the moment, just “Be here now, Joao.”
ALL FANS ARE NOT CREATED EQUALLY: Brazilian fans are known to be as raucous as they come. Today, wearing green and yellow, they were loud, as their nation’s phenom Fonseca blasted his way to victory. Fearnley’s backers were not so loud. All this prompted Sam Querrey to claim, “One Brazilian fan is worth ten Scottish fans.”
CONTENDERS STUMBLE: With the suspension of Jannik Sinner until May, you might assume that the other top ATP players would step up, in hopes of surpassing the Italian. But that hasn’t been the case.
In three South American tournaments, world No. 2 Alexander Zverev failed to get beyond the quarters. Carlos Alcaraz did win in Rotterdam, but he lost in the quarters in Qatar.
No. 4 Taylor Fritz lost in the quarters in Delray and Dallas, and then pulled out of Acapulco with a stomach injury. No. 6 Daniil Medvedev has played four tourneys since the Aussie Open without reaching a final. No. 7 Novak Djokovic lost in the first round in straight sets to Matteo Berrettini in Doha.
Photos by Mike Kheir
THE MOST TALENTED KLUTZ IN THE WORLD: In a wide-ranging press conference, Novak Djokovic admitted, “I’m not getting any younger,” and then opened up on many a topic. He revealed that the well-circulated video of him limping in a Doha airport had nothing to do with on-court injury in Australia. Early that morning, en route to the airport, he’d banged his ankle. Even one of the greatest athletes in history can be a klutz.
Djokovic admitted it’s been since 2016 or 2017 that he’s played well during the Sunshine Double, Indian Wells and Miami. But he commented that, after the four Slams, these two tourneys “give me inspiration when I wake up in the morning, and think about where I want to do well. Indian Wells and Miami are definitely at the top of that list.”
He added that before his thigh injury in Melbourne he’d played well, he enjoys working with his new coach Andy Murray and knows he wants to go on working with the Scot. But Murray had to mull it over with his family and team.
Novak said he and Andy would talk about the future after Miami , but he hoped Murray would work with him through Wimbledon.
He confided, “I’m enjoying the relationship with Andy. I still feel like we are going through the process of getting to know each other on the court in a different way than we’ve known each other for 25 years. So it’s obviously a new role for him. He’s also exploring it and trying to understand how he can excel in it. I’m trying to communicate as much as I can…for us to be able to connect better.”
Djokovic also spoke of the passing of the iconic Aussie Fred Stolle, at 86, saying, “The path that he paved is something that is eternal. It’s important to have all the new generations be reminded of Fred Stolle and all the other legends.”
As for the emerging Joao Fonseca, Nole said the Brazilian “has a very good level of balance and professionalism and devotion, like what we’ve seen for the last couple years with Alcaraz.”
Then, with a certain wisdom, he stated the obvious, that the joy of youth “eventually will come to the point where it’s going to convert into pressure and expectations from himself and others.
“He has the potential to be a superstar…It would be amazing for our sport to have a Brazilian superstar.”
HARDLY SURPRISING: Djokovic’s practice session drew huge, standing-room-only crowds.
WHAT A TREAT! Tennis’ two greatest showmen – Nick Kyrgios (above) and Gael Monfils (below) – both thrilled Indian Wells crowds today. Aussie Nick pulled out his match with an injury. Monfils won.
AMERICA REPORT: American winners today included the rebounding Jenson Brooksby, the pride of Cincinnati Caty McNally, ex-Aussie Open champ Sofia Kenin and the Californian qualifier Mackie McDonald. Losers included Thousand Oaks’ Claire Liu, Varvara Lepchenko and Aleksander Kovacevic. NCAA ranked No. 3 Colton Smith from Arizona celebrated his 2twenty-second birthday with his first ATP win yesterday, and faces Alex Michelsen tomorrow. Learner Tien, Iva Jovic, Alycia Parks and Lauren Davis played late.
MATERNAL MATTERS: Prominent WTA mothers Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova fell. But Victoria Azarenka won, as did Belinda Bencic. The Swiss beat another mother, German Tatjana Maria. Elina Svitolina has yet to play. Taylor Townsend lost in qualifying but is No. 1 in doubles.
FAREWELL PAGE CROSLAND: In 1996, I had an idea. The USTA’s new $263 million stadium, which was to open in a year, should be named after Arthur Ashe.
I wrote an open letter to the president of the USTA suggesting it. But I didn’t hear back from the fellow. Two months later, the USTA Board of Directors voted unanimously to call the new US Open venue the United States Tennis Association Stadium.
I was not pleased, and got going. I started a petition asking the USTA to call their tennis palace Ashe Stadium. I contacted top players, industry figures and movers and shakers within the USTA.
Fairly soon, top USTA leaders like Judy Levering and Pierce O’Neil came on board. Increasingly, board members like Alan Schwartz backed the idea.
Still, it was the USTA’s Director of Communications, Page Crosland, who was one of the first people to see the value of the idea. Soon she was tirelessly working with me to get the USTA to change the stadium’s name. Two months after the board had voted to call their center court the USTA Stadium, they unanimously voted to name it after Ashe.
Crosland, who passed the other day, played a critical role in the move. Over her seven years with the USTA, she also coordinated events at the White House and the US Capitol. She was always cooperative. She even helped me get an interview with Bishop Tutu. May she rest in peace.
Bill, Very nice tribute to Page Crosland. I wasn’t aware of your history and it is a great story. Thanks to both of you for your efforts in honoring the legacy of Arthur.