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Fonseca thunders past Djokovic

19-year-old Brazilian secures his spot in the round of 16

Joao Fonseca, Roland-Garros 2026, third round
©Pierre Froger / FFT
 - Chris Oddo

With Roland-Garros still reverberating from Jannik Sinner’s early exit on Day 5, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic took to Court Philippe-Chatrier on a sun-splashed Friday afternoon as the only former Grand Slam champion remaining in the men’s singles draw. 

With nightfall approaching, after nearly five hours of grinding tennis with Brazilian upstart Joao Fonseca, the three-time champion was sent packing as well. 

In an epic four hour and 53-minute tussle that had 15,000 fans on the edge of their seats for the duration, Djokovic couldn't contain the dynamic Brazilian and fell in five dramatic sets, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. 

"I just played, I just enjoyed, and what a pleasure it was," Fonseca said.

With the win 19-year-old Fonseca became the first teenager to complete back-to-back comebacks from two sets down in 30 years of Grand Slam tennis, and the first teenager to defeat a former men's singles champion from two sets down at Roland-Garros since Michael Chang got past Ivan Lendl en route to the title in 1989. 

The Rio de Janeiro native's victory means there will be a first-time major champion crowned on the final Sunday of Roland-Garros. For the first time since 1968, no former Grand Slam champions will play in the round of 16 of a men's singles draw at a major.

Fonseca was behind two sets to love in less than two hours, 39-year-old Djokovic defying father time once again and looking like a juggernaut on his way to another statement victory. 

But the throngs of Brazilian supporters inside Chatrier, clad in green and gold flags, never stopped cheering for their hero. Fonseca gave them more fuel for their fire as the third set commenced. The No.28 seed had produced 13 winners in the first two sets. By the time he had completed the high-octane 84-minute fourth set he had 46 winners to his name. 

"He just found incredible shots, lines," Djokovic said. "It was just amazing from his side."

A relentless commitment to power and pace from Fonseca forced Djokovic to stay behind his baseline. He deftly defused Fonseca’s power at times, but at others he was unable to contain the Brazilian and his hefty forehand. 

"I was just trying to hit the ball as fast as I could," Fonseca said. "Djokovic, he just doesn't miss."

Fonseca produced a total of 30 forehand winners across the third, fourth and fifth sets. 

It was a coming-of-age performance for the No.28 seed in his first ever match on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Djokovic himself could hardly believe how much moxie the teenager put on display.

"I think he, without a doubt, was the better player in important moments in those crucial fourth and fifth," Djokovic said. "Some amazing exchanges and points."

Even when Djokovic snagged the early break in the decider, Fonseca’s surge continued. Hitting out with abandon, he broke back immediately. After he had engineered the critical break for 6-5, he faced more pressure in the form of a break point in the next game. 

Fonseca's cue to produce three consecutive aces to close out the marathon win.

"I just believed I could do aces," Fonseca said. "I felt like John Isner – it was crazy, I never did that before. I'm just so happy that I could finish like this."