For every rising tennis star, the dream of facing legends is a rite of passage, and for Brazil’s João Fonseca, that dream burns bright! The teenage sensation, who’s made serious waves in 2025, shared his take on the GOAT debate in an ESPN interview, boldly stating, “They can say that Djokovic is the greatest of all time, but for me there’s no way. Djokovic may be the best of all time, but Federer is the greatest. Unrivaled,” While his dream of battling Federer faded with the Swiss icon’s 2022 retirement, another shot at greatness still stands: Novak Djoković. With Roland Garros just around the corner, Fonseca is locked in, eyeing a showdown with the Serbian legend, who’s chasing his 25th Grand Slam. However, what’s his take on playing against Novak, though?
Joao Fonseca has had a relatively solid 2025 season so far, showing glimpses of his rising potential in the tour. After a grueling 5-set loss in the 2nd round of the Australian Open, the young Brazilian bounced back impressively by clinching the Argentina Open title, defeating local favorite Francisco Cerundolo.
Though he experienced a dip in form with early exits at the Rio Open and Indian Wells, Fonseca regained momentum by winning the Challenger event in Phoenix before reaching the 3rd round in Miami. Now, as he begins his clay court campaign in Madrid, Fonseca is setting his sights higher. The 17-year-old opened up about his dream of facing none other than Novak Djokovic, calling it a milestone every aspiring pro hopes to achieve.
Speaking exclusively to Roland-Garros.com, the Brazilian stated, “Some people will want to play the easiest opponents, but I prefer to play against the most iconic players,” while continuing about Novak he said, “When we start major tournaments, I always tell my coach, ‘If I get into the draw, I want to play Djokovic,’ because it’s probably one of the last opportunities. I hope I can face him. I would love to challenge him in the first or second round of Roland Garros. I would try to play my best tennis. Some people will want to play the easiest opponents, but I prefer to play against the most iconic players,”
João Fonseca says he hopes to play Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros, ‘Some people will want to play the easiest opponents, but I prefer to play against the most iconic players’
“When we start major tournaments, I always tell my coach, ‘If I get into the draw, I want to play… pic.twitter.com/funALpK8JS
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 22, 2025
To truly grasp the Serbian GOAT, Novak Djokovic’s legacy, one must look beyond just the numbers, though those alone are staggering. The Serb has claimed 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in men’s tennis history. He also holds a record 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles and, in 2016, became the only member of the legendary Big 3 to hold all four majors simultaneously. Add to that an incredible 428 weeks as top seed, another record, and it’s clear why Djokovic remains a towering figure in the sport.
But where Djokovic flexes his dominance is the Masters Series. Among the nine prestigious ATP 1000 events, the icon hasn’t just won each one, he’s done so at least twice, an unmatched feat that sets him apart from every other player in history.
João Fonseca’s dream of facing Novak Djokovic may soon become a reality at the Madrid Masters, running from April 23 to May 4. Returning to European clay, a surface where he thrives, Fonseca opens against a qualifier. However, the road to a potential quarterfinal showdown with Djokovic won’t be easy, with tough opponents like Tommy Paul and Karen Khachanov possibly standing in his way. With top stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev also in the mix, this tournament is a defining moment for the Brazilian. For the much-anticipated clash to happen, Fonseca must win 4 matches, while Djokovic needs 3 victories.
Although the Brazilian expressed a wish to compete against Novak, his recent performances on clay courts also showcased his confidence.
“I play well on clay,” João Fonseca opened up about playing on the clay courts
João Fonseca’s connection with clay runs deep, shaped by his early years at the “Rio de Janeiro Country Club”. The red dirt laid the foundation for his game, marked by heavy topspin, quick footwork, and tactical patience. In Madrid, where he made his Masters 1000 debut last year, Fonseca earned his 1st main draw win by outlasting American Alex Michelsen in three sets. Although he exited in the 2nd round against Cameron Norrie, the experience boosted his belief heading into this season. With only 25 points to defend, he now has a golden chance to climb the rankings.
Ranked as high as 59th in March, Fonseca has since slipped to a projected No. 63 after dropping points from events like the ATP 250 in Bucharest. Determined to bounce back, he spent nearly a month training on home turf, fine-tuning his game for the slower, more demanding European clay, especially Roland-Garros.
“I’m progressing quickly. Now, reaching the third round of a Grand Slam is on the list of my goals. Maybe at Roland-Garros? I play well on clay, I was born on this surface and I grew up on it so I’m confident. In the future, my goal would be to become No. 1, that’s my dream. But I know that the road is long. I have to work even harder and improve step by step,” he added during the same interview at Roland-Garros.com.
Set to face Denmark’s Elmer Møller today, the 18-year-old brings power and precision, his trademark strengths. If he maintains consistency, a deep run and potential Djokovic clash could be well within reach. Isn’t it?
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