Then, after a magical, five-month samba ride, the reality of the tour grind began to set in. With the shift to clay in April, the Fonseca train slowed and the music quieted. From Madrid through the US Open, he went 9-10 and has made just one round of 16. The green-and-gold were out in force at the US Open, but Fonseca was no match for Tomas Machac in a straight-set second-round loss.
Throughout, Fonseca has emphasized that at this stage of his career, there’s a lesson to be learned in every match, win or lose. He has learned that, when it comes to concentration and mental endurance, the majors really are a different animal.
“When you go to a Grand Slam and play, the players play differently,” he said after a losing in the third round at Wimbledon. “They’re much more focused. It’s a five-set match, and everything can happen. You can have two sets up and then you can still lose the match. So you need to stay focused all the time.”
He’s also learned that having fans can be a double-edged sword.
“Sometimes it’s going to be pressure,” he said this summer. “They’re going to put expectations like, ‘Oh, that’s going to be the next, I don’t know, Sinner or next Guga,’ whatever you think. I’m just going to be me. Some people understand that. Some people is going to be there even if I lose or even if I won.”
