It’s always a special atmosphere at the French Open, with a unique crowd that is never shy about making their loyalties known. Especially when one of their own is present.
So, when Pierre-Hugues Herbert strode onto Court 14 on Thursday, he was naturally met with a raucous welcome.
However, when his opponent then followed, something strange occurred. It was almost like the French crowd, the home support, felt threatened by a strong yellow and blue presence that day.
And so, when Joao Fonseca then walked over to his bench and began warming up, they booed his entrance and jeered his every hit in preparation to play the hometown hero.
They wanted to unnerve the 18-year-old superstar who they had only heard whispers about. However, they soon discovered that this precocious youngster had qualities that bypass a harsh atmosphere.
Joao Fonseca vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert brought a carnival atmosphere to Roland Garros
It was a sight that tennis does not bring about often, but when it does partial onlookers like myself can only admire.
Whoever won that match was of no real interest to me, but what I was there to see was if all the hype around Fonseca was well-founded.
However, even before the match had begun, just seeing the support he garnered offered a brief indication of what was in store and a swift answer to my question.
He had split the French Open crowd against a Frenchman, a feat that few will likely ever do going forward.
And the two certainly made a match out of it, with the first two sets going to a tiebreak which both fell Fonseca’s way. When he sealed the first set with an ace, the noise generated would’ve felt more appropriate had it come from a football stadium.
Seeing this talent up close was a joy, and it also allowed me to confirm one long-held suspicion.
Joao Fonseca already has one of the best forehands on tour
On TV, it’s easy to see how hard the players strike the ball at one another. They trade blows for fun, weighing up the risk and reward of each shot as the chance to kill the point emerges.
It’s a unique tactical battle as well as a physical war, which is further warped by the conditions of the day.
Clay is a surface that favours patient, strategic build-up, given the ball bounces higher thus elongating the rallies.
However, Fonseca’s forehand arguably transcends any conditions when caught sweetly, with Herbert left powerless on many occasions by the sheer power and angle the teenager accomplishes.
It’s incredible to think that, at such a young age, he already has one of the ATP’s biggest weapons.
And the stats back that up too. As of March, his average forehand left his racket at a speed of 81 miles per hour, an increase on the tour average of 76. Not only that, but the spin he applies only adds to its danger, with his average of 3,019 rotations per minute way above the 2,844 of the tour.
Seeing Fonseca run around his backhand to thunder home a forehand winner, in person, was a sight to behold.
The hope and expectation is that this is something that will become commonplace at the apex of this sport, with players already fearing his emergence.
Even Rafael Nadal admires Fonseca, such is his rapid rise to prominence.
The sky truly is the limit for this well-supported and supremely talented teenage sensation, set to bring about a tennis revolution in Brazil.
