It has been a tough start to the 2026 season for Joao Fonseca, but a good run at Indian Wells would make the past couple of months obsolete.
After all, it finally looks like the Brazilian phenom is back fit and firing, and proved that by outlasting Karen Khachanov last night in a thriller.
Joao Fonseca saved three match points as he came from a set down to win in three, and had a message for his fans who stuck with him throughout.
Joao Fonseca has a message for his fans after Indian Wells win
He began by telling Tennis Channel: ‘The crowd was crazy out there.’
Expanding on that, the 19-year-old added: “It was amazing to see the support out there was really, really great. And you, I think those are the victories that we are looking for on tour, and well, saved match points and had ups and downs, but got through and fought a lot.”
Fonseca would later praise them again, emphasising just how crucial their support is: “It’s just very good. It’s just very good. I love their support. I mean, it’s not only Brazilians. There are a lot of Brazilians. They’re loud. Even like 10 Brazilians, they can make the court have a great atmosphere.
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“But there were also people from other countries shouting as well, so that’s what makes it nicer about the sport, so yeah, I’m just very grateful for everyone that, being on court, calling my name and shouting and supporting, even when I was, I mean, 6-4 down in the tiebreak.
“So, yeah, very happy and for sure they helped me to win this match today.”
Fonseca recently won the doubles title in Rio, but that came after his early exit in the singles, much to his and the home fans’ sadness.
Joao Fonseca explains how much he has changed in the last 12 months
In the same interview, Fonseca was also asked to compare his current self to the one from 12 months ago.
Around this time last year, he suffered an early exit in Indian Wells, and instead went to compete in a Challenger event in Phoenix.
Fast-forward a year, and he is preparing for a Round of 16 match against Tommy Paul, with many predicting a hard-fought battle.
Describing his transformation over the last year, Fonseca admitted: “I think the experience on tour, it’s pretty important to have it and to understand how it is. I mean, the consistency is what changes the top 50 from the top 20, the consistency on matches, on results. So that’s what I’m looking for.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t have a great beginning of the year. I was injured, and back with rhythm, but now I’m feeling confident again and feeling healthy, so I’m very happy because of that, and I think Joao from last year’s Indian Wells and Joao from now is much more mature.
“And knowing the game, knowing the moments of pressure, knowing how to deal with important points, and also off court as well. So that’s really important. I’m still learning, so, but yeah, we keep going, we keep learning and now focusing a lot on the third round.”
