Joao Fonseca on his defeat at the Rio Open tournament: ‘Things need to improve’

Brazil’s number one player, 19 years old, laments missed opportunities.

The third defeat in four matches this season had a bitter taste for João Fonseca. On Thursday night, the Brazilian number 1 was surprised by Peruvian Ignacio Buse (91st in the world), who came from behind to lose 5/7, 6/3 and 6/4, in the round of 16 of the Rio Open.

I managed to play a good first set; the break was more his fault than my merit. In the second set, I missed a big opportunity, I couldn’t find my rhythm again, he played well and I didn’t turn things around. He gained confidence and I loosened up a bit, not taking advantage of opportunities. I have things to improve – he acknowledged.

The protégé of coach Guilherme Teixeira wasted eight of the nine break points he had throughout the match. Three of them when his opponent served at 0/40 and 4/3 in the decisive set.

Opportunities, at this level you can’t miss opportunities. I make mistakes sometimes, but it’s a process, it’s about continuing to improve, to keep working. Sad about this defeat, but oh well.

In his farewell singles match at the Jockey Club, the home player hit 36 ​​winners and 43 unforced errors:

– Fewer errors. If I hadn’t made mistakes, I probably would have won, but we know that tennis isn’t like that; in many matches you’ll make more mistakes. Today was a day when I couldn’t find my rhythm very well . I was trying to find it, things that happen in tennis.

On Friday, around 9 pm, Brazil’s number 1 player will play the doubles semi-final alongside Marcelo Melo from Minas Gerais against the Germans Mark Wallner and Jakob Schnaitter.

“That’s how tennis is; there will be weeks when you lose and you have to change your mindset and try to find solutions. Tomorrow I’ll wake up with the same drive. Marcelo and I have been playing good doubles and good tennis. I think it’s about sleeping, rethinking, reflecting a little, and moving on.”