'Guto' riding Fonseca energy in Paris

Contributing to the uproar as Fonseca engineered a dramatic comeback win over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic on Friday was a screaming 17-year-old known as Guto.

Brazil’s Luis Guto Miguel is the top seed in the boys’ draw this year, and he’s hoping to soon follow in Fonseca’s footsteps on the ATP Tour.

“I was on the court when he was playing against Djokovic,” the Goiania, Brazil native told rolandgarros.com following his 6-3, 6-1 win over Japan’s Hyu Kawanishi on Court 8 on Monday. “I was screaming a lot for him.

“What he's doing is amazing. I have to just follow his steps and try to do the same thing.”

Miguel, who is playing for the third time in the boys’ singles event in Paris, has benefited from quality time with 19-year-old Fonseca of late.

“I had time together with him last year,” he said. “We spent two weeks together. He gave me advice: to stay in the present, always, to focus on myself and to be humble.

“To be humble, that's the most important thing.”

Fonseca a friend

The 17-year-old baseliner, who reached the semifinals at the US Open junior tournament last year, said that Fonseca texted him words of encouragement during his run.

“He sent a message for me when I did the semis at the US Open – we are connected.”

Does he think Fonseca can become the first Brazilian since Kuerten to win a Roland-Garros title by the end of the week?

“Yes, for sure,” he says with a smile. “If he keeps his head and plays his game.”

In February in Rio, Miguel made his ATP debut, and nearly came away with his first win. He fell in three sets to Vilius Gaubus of Lithuania, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

“It was an amazing experience, just to have the opportunity to play there,” he said. “I think I did a great match. It escaped from my hands in the beginning of the third set, but it's another experience to learn and get better for the next tournament.”

He also played the qualifying event at Miami, falling to France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

Now that he has risen to No.2 in the ITF junior rankings, Guto knows that he is the one with a target on his back – quite different from his first formative experience on the Parisian clay. Not that he’s letting it bother him.

“To be the top seed, I don’t think that makes a difference,” he said. “Obviously my opponents want to beat me, for sure. They will put less pressure on themselves. They will be happy that the pressure is on me. And I like it. I just have to take care of myself.”

Miguel says he grew up watching Federer and Djokovic, and considers his game to be more like Djokovic’s, due to his physicality, groundstrokes and defense. When it comes to the key to backing up his seeding this week, he says it’s all mental.

“I think my mind is a really important thing,” he said. “I like to play aggressively every time, so whenever my confidence is high. I can play a great level of tennis.”

"Focused on tennis"

It’s easy to get distracted when you are celebrated for your success, even as a junior. After today’s win on Court 8 a representative from Nike held up a Brazil World Cup football jersey with "Guto" on the back. It was a nice moment for the rising talent. He says he is cheering hard for Brazil because he loves his country, but doesn’t have much time to watch football these days.

“Now, I’m focused on tennis.”

As part of a trio of top-five seeds from Brazil – along with No. 4 Victoria Luiza Barros and No. 5 Nauhany Vitoria Leme Da Silva in the girls’ singles draw – the Brazilian contingent looks poised to grow at the professional level.

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