My Influences: How Sinner helped Fonseca make this critical decision...

Brazil's Joao Fonseca enjoyed a taste of the big time at the Nitto ATP Finals last year when he served as a hitting partner at the prestigious year-end event.

The 18-year-old practised with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in Turin, gaining valuable advice and experience. Today, Fonseca is in strong contention to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF after. He has enjoyed a standout 2024 that has included tour-level quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest.

As part of our Next Gen Influences series, Fonseca caught up with ATPTour.com to talk about his admiration for previous Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champions and other inspirations in his life.

Which former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion did you enjoy watching most when growing up?
Many good players have won the title and I would say the one that I really like to watch, and I really see in myself is Sinner. I really like his aggressive game. Technically, the way he plays aggressively is really my type.

Mentally, he is a bit more calm. He is a shy guy and I like the way that he competes. [He is] not too expressive so this is more similar to me.

Can you remember your first meeting with Jannik?
It was at the Nitto ATP Finals last year. I was a hitting partner and we hit on the first or second day. He is a really nice guy.

Since the beginning I was looking to go to university. I was committed to [the University of] Virginia and he said to me, ‘Are you going to university?’ He said, ‘You are too good for this, go to [the] pros’. So that was a nice thing. I thought this guy was kidding me and playing a joke. That was the first time I had practised with him and he was really nice, as were his coaches.

Can you talk to me about Brazilian legend Gustavo Kuerten?
My first interaction with Guga was at the Davis Cup at the start of the year. He said some really nice stuff to the whole team. [He shared] his experience, the way he managed his career after so many injuries. It is really inspiring and he is an idol. He is a really nice person and he has said some really nice stuff.

Who have been the other biggest influences in your life?
Of course, my dad, I would say he's an idol for me. He helped me a lot in the process of my career. I am really thankful for him and mom. My dad is my agent. He does all my stuff.

That's really nice, for my parents to also work with me, so it's really nice to have those type of parents with me. They help me. They cheer for me. So I don't know about a specific story, but that is a thing that both my parents, they helped me with traveling, sponsors.

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