The next Guga? Promising Brazilian Fonseca needed a break to adjust to added attention on tour

MADRID (AP) — Joao Fonseca needed to rest his mind and reflect on everything happening to him.

It was all too new for the young Brazilian tennis player — the media requests, the new fans, the praise from the top players.

“We felt that it was time to take a pause and reflect about everything that happened,” said the 18-year-old Fonseca, who has been quickly rising through the ATP rankings and is considered one of the sport's most promising players.

“A lot has changed. I needed time to rest my mind. It was an important break.”

Fonseca, who is up to No. 65 in the world, paused for nearly a month after reaching the third round in Miami. He went back to Rio de Janeiro to practice and try to recharge after playing several tournaments in a row late last year and early this season.

He is playing at the Madrid Open this week, where on Saturday he is scheduled to face Tommy Paul in the second round of the ATP 1000 clay-court tournament.

“Now there are a lot of people talking about me...in the media, the Internet,” Fonseca said. “I have to stay grounded and keep working hard to achieve more in tennis. I have to keep focused on my things and not on the expectations from other people.”

Former players Andy Murray and Boris Becker, as well as four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, were among those praising the Brazilian recently.

Fonseca won his first tour title in Buenos Aires in February, becoming the first man born in 2006 or later to win an ATP trophy. He was the 10th youngest champion in ATP Tour history and the youngest South American player to win a title in the ATP Tour era (since 1990).

Fonseca started attracting more attention after winning the Next Gen ATP Finals last December, a tournament that brings together the season’s best players who are 20 or younger. He also made headlines after reaching the second round at the Australian Open this year.

“A lot changed since the Next Gen and the Australian Open,” he said. “I became more well known around the world.”

Fonseca comfortably defeated Elmer Moller, 21, in the first round in Madrid in a match played on center court.

“I’m getting more used to those kind of tournaments and the stadiums,” he said. “Today I was a little bit more experienced than the other guy. It’s difficult to say that because I was younger than him, but I already knew how it was to play on big stadiums, and I think it was his first time and he was a little bit more nervous. I’m feeling a little bit more like of a routine, feeling more adapted on those courts.”

Fonseca is already an idol to Brazilians, who haven’t had much to cheer in tennis since former world No. 1 Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten, who won the French Open in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

Loud Brazilian fans have been following Fonseca closely across the world, with big crowds at his matches both in Madrid and in Miami this year.

Fonseca said he doesn’t want to be considered the new Guga, though. Instead, he is just trying to stay focused on training hard and on improving.

“Thankfully I have a great foundation, with relatives, friends and coaches who have been helping me keep my feet on the ground and stay humble to keep on working,” he said.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Joao Fonseca of Brazil celebrates a point against Elmer Moeller of Denmark during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Joao Fonseca of Brazil returns the ball against Elmer Moeller of Denmark during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Joao Fonseca of Brazil competes against Elmer Moeller of Denmark during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Joao Fonseca of Brazil, right, shakes hands after defeating Elmer Moeller of Denmark during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Joao Fonseca of Brazil celebrates after defeating Elmer Moeller of Denmark during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Four years after showing up late for the Beijing Olympics and missing one of his races because of a case of COVID-19, U.S. long track speedskater Casey Dawson is enjoying what he jokingly terms his “villain arc,” peaking at the right time ahead of the Milan Cortina Games.

Dawson secured a spot for next month in the men's 5,000 meters — an event he was forced to skip in 2022 while sick — by winning at that distance at the U.S. Olympic trials in 6 minutes, 12.857 seconds on Friday night.

“I actually got COVID two or three weeks before going to the competition. Tested positive for 50 straight tests,” said Dawson, a 25-year-old from Park City, Utah. “Couldn’t go over to the Games. I missed the opening ceremonies. Missed the 5,000 meters. Showed up 12 hours before my 1,500 meters. So I kind of got a little screwed over from that point of view. But this time around, I’m just looking forward to getting there smoothly and just getting a little bit of redemption.”

And then, with a chuckle, Dawson added: “It’s kind of fun to have, like, my villain arc, I would call it. Just coming back and having some fun.”

Ethan Cepuran was about 6 1/2 seconds back Friday, finishing next in 6:19.335.

The last American man to medal in the 5,000 at an Olympics was Chad Hedrick at the 2006 Turin Games.

Dawson already had secured the lone U.S. place for Milan in the men’s 10,000 — a race not being contested at these trials — and also will be part of the trio for men’s team pursuit at the Olympics.

Dawson, Cepuran and Emery Lehman took the bronze in that event in Beijing four years ago, set the world record in 2024 and claimed gold in the team pursuit at the world championships in March.

In the other race Friday, the women's 3,000, Greta Myers won in 4:06.799. As of now, the United States does not have a berth in Milan for that distance, but one of its athletes could end up in the field if another country relinquishes an opening.

“It's hard to wait,” said Myers, a 21-year-old from Lino Lakes, Minnesota. “But I'm very hopeful. I think it's at least a 50-50 chance that it'll happen.”

The U.S. Olympic roster for long track won't become official until the four-day trials at the Pettit National Ice Center wrap up on Monday. One element that could come into play is that the Americans are allowed to bring a maximum of eight men and six women to these Winter Games.

The biggest star of the team — and the sport — is scheduled to make his trials debut Saturday in the men's 1,000 meters: Jordan Stolz. The 21-year-old from Kewaskum, a town about 40 miles north of Milwaukee, is not just competing at home this week; he's racing at the same rink where he first began taking lessons as a kid.

He made his Olympic debut at age 17 in Beijing four years ago, finishing 13th in the 500 and 14th in the 1,000.

At both the 2023 and 2024 world championships, Stolz earned titles in each of the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

He's already pre-qualified for the Olympics based on performances at those three distances. All he really needs to do to lock down berths on the squad for the Feb. 6-22 Milan Cortina Games is show up at the starting line this week.

The 500 and 1,500 are slated for Sunday, and the mass start is Monday.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Casey Dawson, of Park City, Utah, right, and Ethan Cepuran, of Glen Ellyn, lllinois, left, compete in the men's 5,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speed skating at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Howard Fendrich)

The Pettit National Ice Center is seen in Milwaukee on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, the first day of the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speedskating. (AP Photo/Howard Fendrich)