'I don't believe it right away either' - Andy Roddick shocked at Joao Fonseca being listed as a favorite to win Roland Garros

Brazilian wonderkid Joao Fonseca has been touted as one of the future stars on the ATP Tour. However, former World No.1 Andy Roddick would like people to pump the brakes and lower expectations when dealing with the rising youngster.

The 18-year old jumped into the spotlight after winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah last year, and announced his arrival when he defeated former World No.5 Andrey Rublev in the opening round of the 2025 Australian Open a few weeks later. Fonseca has since made several appearances on tour, winning his maiden title at the Argentina Open soon after his breakthrough in Melbourne.

Being a title favorite in Paris was a surprise, says Roddick

Heading into the 2025 Roland Garros tournament, there were a handful of players whom many believed could realistically lift the trophy. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz was the favorite to retain his title. World No.1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic had good odds to win, but to the surprise of Roddick, Fonseca was listed among the top five contenders to win the Parisian Grand Slam.

“Before Roland Garros, he had lost three consecutive first rounds, including one as a challenger, and here we are in his first round match, and we are told that he is a top-five contender for the title," said Roddick on an episode of his Served podcast. "I wondered what on this planet was going on. Also, he draws huge crowds. That doesn't automatically accelerate the learning curve for him because people are interested in him.
"There's a clear difference between popularity and the fact that he's going to be a great player. I accept the hype, don't I? I don't believe it right away either. I mean, you have to take your time to think."

The Brazilian youngster will look forward to the North American hard court summer, after falling to Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the third round of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.