Barros tells of hit with Brazil football icon Ronaldo and R9's advice
In the weeks building up to the Junior Championships at Wimbledon, a video emerged on social media of rising star Victoria Luiza Barros having a hit with Brazilian football legend Ronaldo – or R9 as he is often known.
Barros, who is just 15 years old but exudes maturity beyond her years, has continued her development this season by competing on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors and last month claimed the biggest title of her career at J300 Bamberg.
She also reached the third round at the Australian Open and Roland Garros Junior Championships, but succumbed in the first round here after losing to Bulgaria’s Rositsa Dencheva. Her career, however, would appear to be following a positive trajectory.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, requires no introductions. Now 48, he was a prolific goalscorer for the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid during an illustrious playing career.
He also won two World Cups with Brazil and was decorated with the Ballon d’Or – an award given to the best player in the world that year and one of the biggest accolades in football – on two occasions. In short, not a bad inspiration for an aspiring sportsperson.
“For me, he is a legend and to be close to him is something really special,” Barros, who met Ronaldo through a shared sponsor, told itfttennis.com. “He is a super nice guy, super humble and tries to help me.
“That is something so special because I learned a lot and I was so happy to be close to him and show him who I am as a person. I also wanted to show him me as a player, but it was more important to show him who I am as person.
“I was happy to have this moment. All of Brazil loves football and he is one of the people and one of the athletes I look up to. I dream to be like him and do similar things to what he did in his career.
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“He gave me advice and told me a lot of hard things about sport, but he also gave me help and advice. He told me to focus upon myself, try to improve all the time and every day be a better person outside of the court.
“He also helped me to learn how to deal with the pressures of sport. I have known him since last year but having met him, talking with him and played a bit of tennis, we have this closer relationship, and I really appreciate having him close to me.”
Compared to most players on show at the Junior Championships, Barros did not have a conventional introduction to tennis. She initially started playing beach tennis through her mother’s involvement with the sport and indeed volleyball.
“I started playing beach tennis when I was really young,” said Barros. “I would say I was about three of four years old. My mum played beach tennis and I loved it.
“My mum always encouraged me to enjoy sport and be healthy. She was a professional volleyball player. For me, beach tennis helps me a lot in tennis. I am super happy how I was born into tennis and how I am growing in the sport.”
The last few weeks on grass have perhaps not been what Barros hoped for. She bowed out of J300 Roehampton in the third round and succumbed in round one at Wimbledon, but the teenager believes the period will prove important from a development perspective.
“Grass is one of the surfaces which helps me improve my game,” added Barros. “I was not born on hard courts or grass courts. In Brazil, I was born onto a clay court and it is a completely different game. It is different physically also.
“The last few weeks have helped me a lot. I have learned to be more aggressive, low and play the game without thinking. I love grass and hope to come back to Wimbledon playing the pros one day.”
A full list of results from the 2025 Junior Championships, Wimbledon can be found here