'It was tough': Fonseca reacts to making first Grand Slam quarter-final

[p]The 19-year-old fought from two sets down ‌to knock out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] in the third round and ‌emerge as a genuine contender in a topsy-turvy tournament, and his latest ‌victory highlighted his growing confidence and composure on the biggest ‌stage in Paris.[/p][p][b]"It was tough, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper[/a] plays good here, I mean he's a very experienced guy, and he knows how to play here in this ‌amazing court,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Fonseca[/a] said in his on-court interview.[/p][p][b]"It ⁠was tough in the beginning, but I played really well in the important moments in the first ​and second sets. I was very happy because of that.[/b][/p][p][b]"I just try to be me on court, try to ​be happy, try to hit winners, try to hit good shots and bring entertainment."[/b][/p][embed guid="deac955a-bfea-4459-89cc-d64bb5ce4884" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZU9UgZ8hy8&pp=ygUMZm9uc2VjYSBydXVk" social-type="youtube" /][p]Playing on Court Philippe Chatrier again, Fonseca sparkled under ⁠the lights with some ​spectacular ball-striking from both flanks and broke in the 12th game to wrap up the first set and draw huge applause from fans.[/p][p]After an early exchange of breaks [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/fonseca-j-tv073LUc/ruud-c-zN9UpRqp/?mid=0UhXFklC"]in the second set[/a], Fonseca and ‌Ruud were locked in a titanic tussle of power hitting, until the Norwegian squandered three set points and allowed his young opponent to edge an electric tiebreak.[/p][p]It left Brazilian three-times Roland Garros champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kuerten-gustavo/f7jxEDLG/"]Gustavo Kuerten[/a] beaming as a raucous crowd roared, but Ruud was not done and snatched the third set to ensure the entertaining encounter would trickle into the early hours of Monday morning.[/p][p][b]"He's an idol for our sport and country, for his charisma and ‌how humble he is," [/b]Fonseca said of Kuerten.[/p][p][b]"He was here for ​my first time at Roland Garros when I was a ‌junior. It is a pleasure to have him here and a pleasure to beat a tough opponent in front of him."[/b][/p][p]Fonseca raised his level again in the fourth, claiming a double break as the atmosphere reached soccer-like intensity, before world ⁠number 30 closed out another ⁠famous victory and booked a ‌meeting with Czech [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a].[/p][embed guid="f438d6df-3635-42af-9f5c-1b33e782b7e4" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_70NjopACA&pp=ygUNbWVuc2lrIHJ1Ymxldg%3D%3D" social-type="youtube" /]