FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 8, 2025 Brazil's Joao Fonseca reacts during his round of 128 match against Hungary's Fabian Marozsan. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
(Reuters) -Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca began his French Open campaign with a 6-2 6-4 6-2 win over Hubert Hurkacz in front of a packed crowd on Court Seven and attributed the huge support to the popularity of compatriot and former champion Gustavo Kuerten.
All three of former world number one Kuerten's Grand Slam triumphs came at the French Open (1997, 2000 and 2001) and 18-year-old Fonseca said that he had made the tournament more popular with Brazilian tennis fans.
