Joao Fonseca says he is back ‘100 percent’, but lack of competitive rhythm costs him at Australian Open | ATP tour | Tennis

Match response

Fonseca says he is back at ‘100 percent’, but a lack of competitive rhythm will cost him at the Australian Open

The Brazilian withdrew from Brisbane and Adelaide ahead of the Melbourne campaign
January 20, 2026

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 training and ‘rhythm’ were key factors in his departure.

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

“I will say I needed more time,” Fonseca said after his 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6 defeat. “I didn’t play since Brisbane started, and then I came back, but slowly. Then I stopped again. So I went almost fifteen days without hitting at 100 percent, very intense.”

“I did my best today, I think [it’s] Too bad I didn’t play 100 percent, but at the same time it gives me maturity to continue, to understand my body, to understand my limits. Today wasn’t the day. But I think I’m still confident, I’m still playing well. I have some good practices. I just need rhythm. I think this season is going to be great for me.”

The early defeat was in stark contrast to last year’s Australian Open, where he announced himself on the big stage by beating Andrei Rublev in straight sets in the first round. Fonseca was clear, but he has no regrets about his participation 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 have to take positive things from… My back is 100 percent. I’m healthy again. I just needed time.”

“It was good to see how to deal with a match of five sets and with a not 100 percent physical body. I got tired before. I needed rhythm, but it’s good to have that experience, to see your limits, to see how things can go. I don’t regret anything.”

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

After his first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Spizzirri, Fonseca was generous in defeat when analyzing the American’s performance, crediting his serve, return and mental strength in key moments.

“I think he served very well,” Fonseca said of Spizzirri, who hit 14 aces and won 81 percent of first-serve points, according to Infosys Stats. “He [made] high returns. That’s something the top players do a lot: they put a lot of pressure on the guy’s return.

“I think he also served plus one. I think he stayed mentally very good. The first game in the third set I had 0/40, but he closed the doors. Then he kept the intensity and I couldn’t maintain it.”

“If I got the game, maybe things would get serious. But it’s a maybe. Tennis has a lot of maybes.”