Alexander Zverev has revealed that he spoke with Joao Fonseca about the challenging journey of breaking into the top tier of professional tennis and becoming a top-20 player. The German, who was already ranked in the top 20 at just 19 years old and reached the top 5 by 20, understands the pressures of a rapid rise on the ATP Tour.
Having experienced the transition from a promising young talent to a tournament favorite, Zverev recognizes the similarities in Fonseca’s trajectory.
The Brazilian teenager recently made headlines by capturing his first ATP title at just 18, defeating Francisco Cerúndolo in Sunday’s Argentina Open final. His breakthrough run also included a stunning upset over world No. 9 Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open, as well as a victory at the Next Gen ATP Finals just a month earlier.
Zverev, the top seed at this week’s Rio Open, is looking to bounce back from a quarter-final loss to Cerúndolo in Buenos Aires. Speaking at a press conference, he shared his thoughts on Fonseca’s rise and their conversations about the journey ahead.
“I talk to him quite a bit. There’s still a long process to becoming a top-20 player, competing for Masters titles, and contending for Grand Slams,” Zverev said. “He’s doing all the right things and playing tennis the right way. Time will tell, but he has everything to be a very good player.”
Zverev will begin his Rio Open campaign against China’s Yunchaokete Bu on Monday, while Fonseca is set to take on France’s Alexandre Müller on Tuesday.
