Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca produced the biggest win of his young career on Friday, rallying from two sets down to knock Novak Djokovic out of the French Open and end the Serbian star’s latest bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
The 19-year-old, seeded 28th, stunned Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in a gripping third-round contest that lasted four hours and 53 minutes.
It was the second consecutive match in which Fonseca recovered from a two-set deficit, and the victory sends him into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
He will next face either two-time Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud or American 24th seed Tommy Paul.
Asked how he maintained belief after falling two sets behind, Fonseca admitted he briefly lost faith.
“I actually didn’t,” he said.
“I just kept playing. I enjoyed being on court. What a pleasure it was stepping on court with him (Djokovic) for the first time.
“I was trying to hit the ball as fast as I could. Djokovic does not miss.”
Djokovic’s defeat comes a day after the shock exit of world number one and tournament favourite Jannik Sinner, leaving the men’s draw wide open.
The result guarantees that this year’s French Open will crown a first-time men’s Grand Slam champion, ending a streak of nine consecutive major titles won by Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz.
“What an incredible match to be part of,” Djokovic said.
“Huge credit to Joao for really deserving to win the match. Without a doubt, he was the better player in the crucial moments.”
Djokovic has remained on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning the US Open in 2023 and may not get a better opportunity to add to his tally, especially with two-time defending champion Alcaraz absent from Paris through injury.
“You just have to say well done and congratulate him. He played lights-out tennis,” Djokovic said of Fonseca.
“I don’t think I did much wrong. He was just better.”
With several leading contenders already eliminated, world number two Alexander Zverev appears among the favourites to capitalise on the open draw. The three-time Grand Slam finalist was scheduled to face France’s Quentin Halys in the night session.
Swiatek, Andreeva advance
In the women’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek secured her place in the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over fellow Pole Magda Linette.
Swiatek recovered from an early 2-0 deficit against the world number 35, who had defeated her in their most recent meeting in Miami in March.
The former world number one broke serve three times to claim the opening set before racing into a 4-1 lead in the second. Although she stumbled while serving for the match, she eventually closed out the contest to set up a clash with the in-form Marta Kostyuk.
“It was a good match. I played much better than in Miami,” said Swiatek, who brought in Francisco Roig, a longtime coach of Rafael Nadal, after her loss to Linette earlier this year.
Kostyuk, seeded 15th, continued her impressive clay-court form with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.
The Ukrainian has now won 15 consecutive matches on clay, having captured titles in Madrid and Rouen.
“Marta is having a great season. She always had the game to play well,” Swiatek said.
“So good for her. But I’m going to focus on myself, prepare tactically as before any other match, and we’ll see.”
Elsewhere, Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva advanced to the last 16 with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 victory over Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova.
The eighth seed will next face Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, ranked 170th in the world, after Teichmann upset former French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova.
AFP
