Guto Miguel reveals João Fonseca's influence after title at Roland Garros
Brazilian tennis won, this Saturday (6), another remarkable chapter in its history at Roland Garros. By winning the youth singles title, Luis Guto Miguel became the first Brazilian to lift the category trophy at the French Grand Slam and celebrated the feat as the result of years of dedication to the sport.
"This means a lot to me. There is really a lot of work behind it, from me, from my team, and not just this year. It's been many years of hard work. I'm very happy and enjoying the moment, but I want to remain humble because there's still a lot to do", said the tennis player after the achievement.
The title crowns a special week for Brazilian tennis in Paris. During the campaign, the country also stood out with young promises and once again saw its name associated with the tradition built by Gustavo Kuerten on French clay.
Guto made a point of highlighting this legacy and cited the rise of João Fonseca as an inspiration for the new generation.
"When I was little, I always watched Djokovic's games. Today, of course, I'm a big fan of João Fonseca. What he's doing is incredible. Brazil has a great history here at Roland Garros. There was Guga, João Fonseca scored this week and I was able to contribute a little for Brazil. I think we're going through a good moment again and all the players are growing together," he said.
The decision was played in front of a grandstand with a strong presence of Brazilians. The support coming from the stands was one of the points highlighted by the champion after the match.
"I really enjoy playing in front of my audience, especially Brazilians. Brazil is a football country and the fans are used to creating a very special atmosphere. I want to thank everyone who was cheering for me. It was an incredible atmosphere and I certainly won't forget this day", he declared.
In the final, Guto beat the American Michael Antonius, who arrived motivated by a consistent campaign and after eliminating strong opponents throughout the week. According to the Brazilian, the strategy was to seek to impose intensity from the first points.
"At the beginning of the match I wanted to intimidate him a little with my winning balls, but he was very solid. It was difficult to manage the situation. At a certain point I managed to raise my level and take advantage of the opportunities that appeared. Afterwards, believe me, it was not easy to close the game. It was a very special feeling inside me", he said.
The new Roland Garros youth champion also revealed that he received support from João Fonseca during important moments in his career. According to him, the current Brazilian tennis phenomenon sent a message of encouragement during his campaign at the US Open youth.
"He sent me a message saying: 'Come on, Guto! Keep believing in yourself'. We don't train together, but we have a connection," he said.
Natural from Goiânia, Guto moved to Brasília at the age of 14 to train at Academia Santos Dumont, under the guidance of coach Kiki Grangeiro. On the court stand, in addition to the coach, there were family, friends and members of his physical preparation team.
"I had very special people around me. This is also part of this achievement", he concluded.
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Source: CNN