ATP Tour

Fonseca on Kuerten: ‘He's not only an idol, but also an inspiration’

As Joao Fonseca continues his campaign at Roland Garros, the expectations around Brazilian tennis’ next major hope continue to grow, with the tournament’s history inevitably bringing one name back into focus: Gustavo Kuerten.

For any Brazilian player arriving at the clay major in Paris, Kuerten’s legacy remains impossible to ignore. 'Guga' won Roland Garros three times in 1997, 2000 and 2001, becoming not only a national icon but also the only Brazilian to reach No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings, achievements that continue to shape the standard for success in tennis in his country.

“Guga, because of his history in the sport,” Fonseca told ATPTour.com, when asked about his favourite ATP No. 1 Club member. “He is an idol not only because of his tennis but also for his charisma. Not only tennis players but people who like tennis love him. Everything he does, he does with a smile on his face, so he's not only an idol for me, but also an inspiration.”

Fonseca’s reference point to Kuerten is natural, but his own path has started to form its own outline in recent seasons. On his Roland Garros debut last year, the then-18-year-old reached the third round and became the youngest Brazilian to win a match at the clay-court major since Thomaz Koch in 1963, results that reinforced his status as part of the next wave of Brazilian men’s tennis rather than a direct continuation of Kuerten’s era.

That distinction is also shaped by timing, with Fonseca born in 2006, two years after Kuerten won his 20th and final tour-level title in 2004, and well after the peak of his dominance. Kuerten’s place in the ATP No. 1 Club, earned through his time at World No. 1 and his sustained success at the top of the game, remains a benchmark that inevitably frames how Brazilian progress in the sport is measured today.

“I couldn't see Guga play because I was born in 2006,” Fonseca said of Kuerten. “But I watched some videos and Guga’s backhand was just unbelievable. The way he fought as well was just crazy. I have great memories.”

Fonseca arrived in Paris this year with a more established resume than on his debut, having won the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals and added ATP Tour titles in Buenos Aires and Basel during a breakthrough 2025 season.

As Fonseca prepares for his second-round match against Dino Prizmic at Roland Garros, the focus remains on building consistency at the highest level rather than living in the shadow of comparison. The clay-court major in Paris has long been the defining stage for Brazilian tennis, and while ATP No. 1 Club member Kuerten remains the reference point, Fonseca is gradually writing his own place within that history.

Twenty-nine players are in the exclusive ATP No. 1 Club, having reached World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. ATPTour.com speaks to current stars about their favourite member of the No. 1 Club.