PARIS (AP) 鈥� performance at the was just what tennis needs more of.
The 19-year-old brought a new level of buzz to the sport with his vocal Brazilian fans, blistering forehands and .
鈥淭he world is on his shoulders. People want him so bad to do well all over the world,鈥� told reporters, adding that American TV broadcaster TNT was hoping he would reach the final: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how big he鈥檚 become.鈥�
Fonseca, however, ran out of energy in in the quarterfinals late Tuesday.
A drop in level was understandable after Fonseca twice rallied from two sets down, first against Dino Prizmic in the second round and then against Djokovic in the third round 鈥� having never won a five-set match before.
In the fourth round, Fonseca eliminated two-time runner-up Casper Ruud.
鈥淢y mentality is on the right path,鈥� Fonseca said after getting beat by Mensik.
Fonseca has been hyped as The Next Big Thing in men鈥檚 tennis since as an 18-year-old. That was his Grand Slam debut and it came when he was ranked 112th and made it into the main draw by winning three matches in qualifying rounds.
Fonseca is now No. 30 and is projected to move up to No. 25 after achieving his best Grand Slam result so far.
鈥淔or all the expectations and hype,鈥� McEnroe said, 鈥渉e鈥檚 starting to figure it out.鈥�
Fonseca’s attention now turns to Wimbledon, where he reached the third round last year.
鈥淚 like playing on grass. It鈥檚 fun,鈥� he said, adding that he would head home to Brazil for a week before coming back over to Europe to begin the grass-court season.
For Fonseca鈥檚 last two matches in Paris, former French Open champion Gustavo 鈥淕uga鈥� Kuerten sat in the front row to watch his fellow Brazilian. Fonseca is the first Brazilian man to reach the last eight in Paris since 鈥� you guessed it 鈥� Kuerten in 2004.
Kuerten won Roland Garros in 1997, 2000 and 2001 and was ranked No. 1.
Djokovic suggested that Fonseca could be just as successful.
鈥淗e definitely has the potential to do that. Things have to come together,鈥� Djokovic said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got firepower. He鈥檚 got the whole Brazilian nation cheering him up, so there鈥檚 a lot of excitement around him 鈥� rightfully so. So hopefully he can be the next great thing, win Slams. Definitely wish to see that.鈥�
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