Joao Fonseca Upsets Novak Djokovic at French Open

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca achieved a significant victory by defeating Novak Djokovic in the third round of the French Open. Djokovic, aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title, fell short on Friday with a score of 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. The match saw temperatures soar to 33 degrees C (91 F), causing the 39-year-old Serb to display signs of fatigue in the final set.

Despite winning the first two sets with his usual defensive play and precise shots, Djokovic struggled to maintain his momentum. “Tough one for me to lose,” Djokovic said, acknowledging his physical struggle as the match progressed.

Facing Fonseca for the first time, Djokovic started strong but could not fend off the teenager’s resilient play. Fonseca leveled the match by the fourth set, and despite Djokovic having a break point in the final game, Fonseca sealed his victory with three consecutive aces. This win marks the first time a teenager has beaten Djokovic in a Grand Slam event.

“I just enjoyed being on court and what a pleasure it was,” Fonseca expressed. “Playing him for the first time, I focused on hitting as fast as possible.” Fonseca also humorously compared his aces to those of John Isner and celebrated his mother’s birthday, acknowledging the Brazilian supporters in the crowd.

Arriving in Paris with some uncertainty after an Australian Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz and a shoulder injury, Djokovic managed limited preparation on clay. His previous matches extended over three hours, leading him to believe in his chances, especially after Jannik Sinner’s exit.

However, the intense heat, which also troubled Sinner, impacted Djokovic as well. He relied on ice packs to cope but still seemed in control after the second set. Yet, as Fonseca pressed with powerful forehands, the tide turned.

In the fifth set, Djokovic sought ways to summon energy against the younger Fonseca but visibly struggled. Despite his efforts, Fonseca’s performance proved too much.

Following the match, Djokovic praised Fonseca’s play. “He deserved to win and should be proud of himself,” noted Djokovic. “We’ve seen today why there’s hype around him.” Djokovic’s future participation in the French Open remains uncertain, as he expressed last year after losing to Sinner.