Andy Roddick has been left stunned by what people have been saying about João Fonseca earlier this year.
After all, the tendency that media of any kind has to build up and then tear down talent is frightening, with tennis no different.
This Brazilian is just 18 years old and already on track to shatter records for fun, but is being constantly slated due to the comparisons made against the legends who have come before him.
Whether it be Carlos Alcaraz or Rafael Nadal, this is a level that no young player should ever be expected to reach.
And yet, Joao Fonseca is trying his best, but still falls short of such perfection, drawing scrutiny that has left Roddick both frustrated and shocked.
Andy Roddick admits he’s buying into the João Fonseca hype
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast after Wimbledon’s conclusion, the former world number one was keen to dispel one issue he has had in the aftermath of this Grand Slam pertaining to the likes of Fonseca and other young stars.
Seeking to temper expectations, Roddick admitted: “Also, like, okay, he draws huge crowds in Miami. That doesn’t automatically expedite the learning curve for him because people are interested in him. Like, there’s a clear separation between popularity, and I think he’s gonna be… I buy the hype, right? I also don’t buy it immediately.
“Going into Roland Garros, he had lost, like, three straight first rounds, one in the challenger, and we’re on his first round match, and they’re going, right, he’s one of the top five title contenders. I’m like, on what planet? Like, I mean, we got to just kind of like, take a beat.
“But, to the point, we’ve seen these guys, whether it’s Rafa or Alcaraz breaking through, and Sinner’s a good example, because I have it underlined here. Remember when the narrative was that he can’t win a big match? Do you remember that? Way back when, like, four years ago?
“You know, and so we just need some time and some patience. We don’t need Fonseca to be max Fonseca in the next three months. Like, it will take a little bit of time, even though we’ve been spoiled, in the best possible way.”
Admittedly, watching Fonseca’s forehand up close did explain where all the hype has come from for this young superstar.
How good really is João Fonseca?
A lot has been said about this prodigious Brazilian, who commands hordes of fans wherever he goes.
After all, his talent is evident for all to see, with his home nation seemingly full of expectation for what might come from the teenage sensation.
Alas, at times, this unrelenting support has been used to detract from his abilities, with some suggesting that this backing affords an undeserving youngster preferential treatment, particularly with regard to the arenas he plays in.
But, there’s no denying that Fonseca is the future of this sport, and to predict his imminent rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is not an unfair suggestion based on what we have seen so far.
It’s worth remembering that they are four and five years his senior, and at his age were occupying a similar level.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
At 17, Alcaraz made his main draw debut at the Australian Open as a qualifier, just one year before Fonseca did. He lost in the second round, as did Fonseca, who actually beat Andrey Rublev in the first round.
Similarly, Sinner was 17 when he qualified for the US Open, his debut at a major, but was beaten in the first round.
These are formative experiences that mould a young player, and Fonseca is on track to emulate what this pair have already done and potentially challenge their duopoly over men’s tennis.