Affection from the fans drives João Fonseca at UTS Rio in search of valuable experience for the circuit

In Rio de Janeiro, tennis player João Fonseca, despite having no chance of winning the UTS Rio title, highlighted on Thursday, July 18, 2026, the importance of affection from the Brazilian fans. For the athlete, the experience at Maracanãzinho, which does not count points towards the ATP rankings, offers valuable experience that goes beyond the four lines of the court and will serve as an inheritance for the remainder of his season.

The experience of playing at home and preparing for major tournaments

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The young tennis player, currently ranked 27th in the world, highlighted the opportunity to compete on national soil, with the intense support of the public. This period marks the beginning of his preparation for tournaments on hard courts, including the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year. Fonseca expressed gratitude for the reception, stating that the affection from the fans is immense and that he feels an immense honor in representing Brazil. “It’s super cool to have this experience and, God willing, in the future, there will be more and more things like this”, said the athlete about the possibility of more events in the country.

His return to Brazil for commitments on the professional circuit will take place soon. The Brazilian tennis team will face Switzerland in the Davis Cup, on September 18th and 19th, at the Farmassi Arena, also in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Challenges in adapting to the innovative UTS format

When asked about his performance at UTS Rio, Fonseca reflected on the tournament’s different format, which adopts rules that are very different from the traditional ones. He admitted that adapting to the demands of the event may have been a significant obstacle. The tennis player described the court as “slower” and the format as “very fast”, generating long points due to the condition of the game and short ones between them, making the experience “tiring”. “The format is different and I don’t know if I adapted in the best way possible,” he said.

Despite being eliminated from the semi-finals, Fonseca still took to the court on Thursday (18), to face Corentin Moutet in the dispute for seventh place. The day before, he had beaten Tallon Griekspoor 3-1, but was defeated by Nick Kyrgios 3-0.

Guto Miguel advances and receives praise from João Fonseca

Brazil also celebrates the performance of the current leader of the youth ranking, Guto Miguel, who secured a place in the semifinals of UTS Rio. He will face tennis player Francisco Cerúndolo. Fonseca, who had already defeated Cerúndolo at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires last year, praised his compatriot.

For Fonseca, Guto Miguel is performing better at UTS, adapting better to the conditions and playing focused. “It’s about continuing with this mentality and keeping your feet on the ground. You’re making really cool history in tennis,” commented the athlete, describing Guto as “a good kid” and highlighting the importance of maintaining humility and hard work. At 17 years old, Guto Miguel arrived at UTS Rio with an impressive CV, which includes two Grand Slam youth titles: singles champion at Roland Garros and doubles at Wimbledon, alongside Slovenian Ziga Sesko.

Understand how UTS works and its innovative rules

The Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) is an innovative competition in the tennis scene, created by Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of multi-champion Serena Williams. The tournament was created with the aim of offering a more dynamic and interactive experience, significantly differentiating itself from the traditional norms of the sport.

Among the rules that make UTS unique, the following stand out:

• Audience interaction: Unlike conventional tournaments, where silence is mandatory during points, at UTS the public is encouraged to demonstrate and celebrate throughout the match, creating a more vibrant atmosphere.
• “quarters” format: The clashes are divided into four periods of eight minutes each, known as “quarters”, replacing the traditional set system.
• sudden death: In the event of a tie in the number of quarters won, the decision takes place in a sudden death tiebreaker, adding an element of extra tension.
• No second withdrawal: To speed up the game, the second serve rule is eliminated, which requires more precision and aggression from the first serve.
• Communication with coaches: Coaches can communicate with athletes via microphone during the match, offering real-time guidance and strategies.
• Bonus Cards: A strategic resource that allows players to multiply the score of a decisive point at key moments of the confrontation.

Future perspectives for Brazilian tennis in Rio de Janeiro

The presence of big names and new tennis talents, such as João Fonseca and Guto Miguel, in international events held in Rio de Janeiro, reinforces the city as an important hub for the development of the sport in Brazil. The next important stage will be the Davis Cup, in September, which promises to bring Brazilian fans back to support the team. The visibility and experience gained in these tournaments are crucial for the maturation and projection of young athletes on the world stage.