In Focus: Luca Van Assche
In Focus: Luca Van Assche
Anticipation is building for the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, where some of the contenders at this year’s 20-and-under event hit the practice courts Sunday.
Luca Van Assche sparred with alternate Martin Landaluce at King Abdullah Sports City as he gears up for his second Jeddah campaign. The Frenchman, currently No. 128 in the PIF ATP Rankings, reached the semi-finals in 2023, and he will this year compete as the sixth seed in the city on the Red Sea.
Joao Fonseca is one of five debutants in the Jeddah field this year. The 18-year-old, who is the first Brazilian to qualify for the event since it began in 2017, also practised on Sunday afternoon with tournament hitting partner Rafael Jodar. Jakub Mensik and Shang Juncheng followed Fonseca onto court for an all-Top 50 practice, with the in-form Nishesh Basavareddy set to hit later with 18-year-old Spaniard Jodar.
<img alt=”Joao Fonseca” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/12/15/12/44/fonseca-next-gen-2024-sunday-practice-volley.jpg” />
Joao Fonseca in action on the practice court on Sunday in Jeddah. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.
Van Assche, Fonseca, Mensik, Shang and Basavareddy, as well as Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien, will find out their group-stage opponents when the draw takes place on Sunday from 8 p.m. local time (6 p.m. CET/12 p.m. ET).
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Joao Fonseca is set to make history this week in Jeddah, where he will become the first Brazilian to compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
The 18-year-old may have a big future ahead of him on the ATP Tour, but he is also clear about which past Grand Slam classic sticks most in his memory. Earlier this year, Fonseca spoke to ATPTour.com about his wish to change the outcome of that match, his off-court hobbies and more.
[ATP APP] If you could have dinner with any three people in history, who would they be?
I would say Roger [Federer]. I’ve not met Roger yet, but he’s my idol in tennis. [Basketballer] Kobe Bryant: his type of play, it was incredible. Then I would say my dad, because he would help me to ask about the things I want to ask, but which are difficult to express sometimes in English.
If you could switch places with one person in the world for a day, who would it be?
A difficult question. I don’t want to say Roger, I want to say a person not in tennis. Maybe someone in soccer, like Cristiano Ronaldo. I could also say Neymar, maybe because he’s Brazilian, but probably Ronaldo.
Is there any particular match that you remember watching from years gone by on TV, that you wish you could have played?
The one in 2019, when Roger had match point against [Novak] Djokovic at Wimbledon. I wish I would be Roger, so I could make an ace at 40/15 [on championship point]. I want to change history!
What’s something cool you’ve done off the court because of being a tennis player?
At the Rio Open, I visited a programme that works with people from the favela. Humble people that don’t have a lot of money and it teaches them how to play tennis. And when they saw me, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m just a guy that is your age’, just trying to help and teach tennis. That was very nice for me. And for me, that was a very special day. I helped a lot of kids, to help inspire them to play tennis.
And what are your biggest off-court hobbies?
I’ve loved to play sports since I was a kid. I’d say that until I was 11 or 12, I played all sports. I live near the beach, so I surfed, I climbed with my dad, I cycled a lot also. I played soccer too, so I liked to play as many sports as I could. My mum was a volleyball player, so I also played volleyball, which I loved. So that’s my hobby too. In my days off I like to play some sports.
You get to travel a lot in tennis. If there’s one place you could visit anywhere in the world not for a tennis tournament, where would it be?
I would say Japan or maybe Greece. Greece is nice.
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Slight in frame but big in game, Jannik Sinner has conquered the tennis world in 2024, winning two majors and becoming the first Italian to rise to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
#NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik has been a long-term admirer of Sinner and standing at 6’4″ and slim in build, the 19-year-old sees himself in the former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion.
Speaking to ATPTour.com as part of our Next Gen influences series, Mensik discusses Sinner’s game, his relationship with Czech legend Tomas Berdych and more.
[ATP APP]Which former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion do you most identify with?
The new generation is coming. With Sinner, Alcaraz and all of these young players, when I was practicing or trying to reach the ATP Tour, I saw they reached the level and it helps to see that. The game is always moving on and all the former Next Gen players, me and the other younger players are bringing something new.
I like Sinner. A tall player like me and he is still moving so well. It is similar to me in my opinion because I’m already tall and I can move well on the court. With the forehand, I have a similar technique and style to Jannik. I can’t be like Alcaraz because he’s smaller and stronger. I’m the guy who is skinnier. When you see a lot of tall guys now, they have a big serve and big weapons weapons. My serve is also a very big weapon.
Read more from our Influences series
Which former Next Gen champion did you enjoy watching most when growing up?
All of them because when you see the Next Gen Finals, it’s a big event. I think that a lot of the past champions are already at the top of the ATP Tour. I think Jannik [Sinner] was one of the first winners and he was also my age when he played the event and was at the same level as me when he played the event and is now the best player in the world. It’s nice to also watch the new players trying to bring something fresh to tennis.
Who have been your biggest other influences?
In my hometown, Tomas Berdych was practising all the time and when I started to play tennis, he was at his best level, so I started because of him. I watched him when I was at home. Then we had the Big 3 at the time and my favourite was Novak [Djokovic]. He is my idol.
Can you remember the first time you met Djokovic?
I think I was playing juniors at the US Open in 2021. I saw all of the players here. When I came to practise he was walking to do some fitness, so I saw him for 10 minutes and it was an unforgettable memory because I started basically because of Tomas Berdych, but Novak too as he was my idol. I watched him on the TV and the time I saw him for the first time was a wow moment.
What have you learned this past year on Tour?
That it is not about just victories. My motto is, we don’t lose. I knew at the beginning that it would be super difficult on the Tour. Every day, every week, you’re basically losing because at the end of the tournament there can be only one winner, one champion and it’s always like this. It is very tough to stay in week in and week out to be the champion. That’s the point of trusting the process. Working hard every day and be the best I can and then one day you will be the champion.
How influential have your parents been?
I have to say that from the beginning of my career, when I started with tennis, it was always my dad and I. All the time I had great people around me. Without my parents, I wouldn’t be here because they really support me. I’m really glad that I have them. It was my first coach first tennis coach who really showed me what tennis is. How to play and he basically showed me how to how to fall in love with tennis. Now my current coach, without him it would be impossible to be here. If it is family, coaches, my team, physio, fitness, everybody, we have a great spirit. That is key to be relaxed and play your best tennis.
What sort of attributes do you look for when bringing people into your team?
They need to push me forward. Because every time we visit these places, they say, ‘Look, you are here.’ Obviously they then have to push me forward to help me achieve my goals.
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