Fonseca says back is ‘100 per cent’ but lack of match rhythm costs him at Australian Open

Match Reaction

Fonseca says back is ‘100 per cent’ but lack of match rhythm costs him at Australian Open

Brazilian withdrew from Brisbane and Adelaide ahead of Melbourne campaign

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Joao Fonseca falls to Eliot Spizzirri in four sets on Tuesday at the Australian Open. By Jerome Coombe

Joao Fonseca insisted his back is fully fit after his Australian Open first-round defeat to Eliot Spizzirri on Tuesday, but admitted a lack of match practice and “rhythm” proved decisive in his exit.

The 19-year-old Brazilian withdrew from both Brisbane and Adelaide before the season’s first major and said he simply needed more time on court. Reflecting on his physical state and the difficulty of finding rhythm, Fonseca said the stop-start nature of his comeback made it hard to feel fully in sync on court.

“I will say I needed more time,” Fonseca said after his 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6 defeat. “Since the beginning of Brisbane, I wasn't playing, and then I came back, but slowly. Then I stopped again. So I went almost 15 days without hitting at 100 per cent, very intense.

“I tried my best today. I think [it’s] bad that I wasn't 100 per cent playing, but at the same time, it gives me maturity to keep going, to understand my body, to understand my limits. Today wasn't the day. But I think I'm still confident, I'm still playing good. I'm having some good practices. I just need rhythm. I think this season is going to be great for me.”

The early loss was a sharp contrast to last year’s Australian Open, where he announced himself on the big stage by defeating Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the first round. Fonseca was clear, however, he has no regrets about competing in Melbourne.

“I don't regret it at all,” said Fonseca, the No. 32 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I think there are things in life that you need to get positive things from… My back is 100 per cent. I'm healthy again. I just needed time.

“It was good to see how to deal with a five-set match and with the physique not 100 per cent. I was getting tired earlier. I needed rhythm, but it's good to have that experience, to see your limits, to see how it can go. I don't regret a thing.”

Looking ahead, Fonseca confirmed he will next travel to South America, where he plans to rebuild match sharpness ahead of defending his ATP 250 title in Buenos Aires and competing at his home ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro.

After his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Spizzirri, Fonseca was generous in defeat when analysing the American’s performance, crediting his serving, returning and mental strength at key moments.

“I think he served really well,” Fonseca said of Spizzirri, who hit 14 aces and won 81 per cent of first-serve points, according to Infosys Stats. “He [made] a lot of returns. That's one thing that the top players do a lot, they put a lot of pressure on the guy's return.

“I think he served plus one as well. I think he stayed really well mentally. The first game in the third set that I had 0/40, but he closed the doors. After this, he kept with the intensity, and I couldn't hold it.

“Maybe if I got the game, maybe things would go seriously. But it's a maybe. Tennis has a lot of maybes.”

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