Fonseca reels in Ruud for first major QF

The future is now for Joao Fonseca. 

Just over 48 hours after coming from two sets down to top Novak Djokovic in a five-hour, instant classic, the question was obvious: How would the 19-year-old sensation bounce back from a historic win when he took to Court Philippe-Chatrier against two-time Roland-Garros finalist Casper Ruud?

The answer is: sensationally. 

With three-time Roland-Garros champion and countryman Gustavo Kuerten watching on, Fonseca surged into his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 7-5, 7-6(8), 5-7, 6-2 victory.

The two men had both entered the match battle-tested. In addition to his five-set win over Djokovic, Fonseca also came from two sets down to win his third round against Croatia's Dino Prizmic.

Ruud, meanwhile, also played a pair of five-setters in his first three rounds, against Roman Safiullin in the first round and Tommy Paul in the third, saving match points to beat the American.

And nearly four hours, the two men wore each other out in another barnburner - but it was Fonseca and his fearsome forehand that claimed a second straight win over a player ranked above him.

The victory makes him the youngest of the five Brazilian men to ever reach the Roland-Garros quarterfinals in the Open era, and the first since his hero Kuerten in 2004.

More to come...