J. FONSECA/D. Shapovalov
5-7, 6-4, 6-3
THE MODERATOR: Joao, well done. How do you feel about your quick turnaround from Basel? How did you find the atmosphere out there on Court 1?
JOAO FONSECA: Well, it was a great experience today after winning a tournament and changing the mindset for another tournament, another big tournament where I needed to play my best, because the guy that I played is a top-25 guy.
Yeah, last week we did a good fight, so I knew I was going to play my best. First set was a little bit more tight. He got a break, was returning well, playing well. I got an early break in the second set where I felt a little bit more confident. I think that was the change of the game.
So very happy the way that I stayed mentally in this game after, like you said, a good week. Last week was a good week, so changing the mindset was good today.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.
Q. Can you give us a little update of your back injury? How do you feel now?
JOAO FONSECA: I'm feeling good. Tennis is like this. Week after week, you need to change the mindset, and there's going to be some little discomfort, mini injuries, where I felt a little bit tight, feeling tight. But feeling good, nothing that a good physio can't make it good in one day.
So, yeah, I think tomorrow is going to be great. I'm already feeling better. Tomorrow is another good day, so I'm going to fight till the end.
Q. You play next match against Khachanov. Do you have some expectations about that?
JOAO FONSECA: We all know he's a good player. He can win against anyone. He's a seeded player. He knows how to play in this type of tournament. He has a lot of experience. It's going to be our first matchup, so excited to play against him.
Yeah, we work very much to play against those guys, so I'm going to give all I can for the match tomorrow.
Q. You were just talking about schedule and playing a lot, but it seems like you probably learned a lot this year about the schedule. Looks like you probably managed it quite well with the team around you to get to late October/November.
JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, this year was my first year as playing the big tournaments. So one of the things that me and my team, we try to focus a lot was which weeks we're going to play, which weeks not going to play, focus more on physique and mentality.
Yeah, I missed Asia. I was sick, but also because of my mental and my physique. Yeah, we didn't go because it was too many things, Davis Cup, Laver Cup, and I was going directly to Asia. Yeah, I felt a little bit more sick so I didn't go to Shanghai also. Then I started indoors.
So yeah, the week after week is a lot of things, but it's my first year, so I can't complain. I'm just enjoying a lot the tour. But what I can see, a lot of players saying it's too much sometimes. But yeah, this year we just knew it was going to be very much and we just focus on which weeks we're going to play or not.
Q. It seems that everywhere you play you play in front of a home crowd and especially in Paris here. How does it feel to play with such a crowd behind you all the time? Is it an extra pressure or is it just better than anything?
JOAO FONSECA: When I was younger, I felt much more pressure when I was playing with crowd on my side, and nowadays I just love playing with them. I think their support, it helps me a lot to stay in the match. When things are bad, when things are good, they are there to support.
So I love playing with the crowd. I know that everywhere I go there are some Brazilians and that's super nice. I love representing my country, so it's a pleasure just representing them, and that everywhere I go, every match I play, there are some Brazilians cheering.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports