Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, suffered a stunning defeat in the third round of the French Open on Wednesday, losing to Brazilian teenager João Fonseca in a five-set battle that stretched beyond five hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 37-year-old Serb, who entered the tournament as the third seed, appeared in control after taking the first two sets 6-4, but Fonseca mounted a remarkable comeback to win 6-3, 7-5, 7-5.
A New Star on Clay
Fonseca, ranked 76th in the world, becomes the first Brazilian man to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros since Gustavo Kuerten, the three-time champion (1997, 2000, 2001), last did so in 2004. The 18-year-old from Rio de Janeiro showed composure beyond his years, breaking Djokovic's serve five times in the final three sets and saving 12 of 16 break points faced.
“I just kept believing,” Fonseca said in his on-court interview. “Novak is a legend, but I knew if I stayed aggressive and focused, I could turn it around. The crowd here in Paris was incredible.”
Djokovic, who has struggled with form and fitness this season, acknowledged his opponent's quality. “João played fearless tennis in the crucial moments,” the Serb said. “I gave everything, but he was better today.”
Sinner Also Falls
Djokovic is not the only top seed to exit early. World number one Jannik Sinner of Italy was eliminated in the second round by Argentina's Francisco Cerúndolo, after suffering from heat illness. The 23-year-old Italian, who won the Australian Open in January, struggled visibly in the third and fourth sets, losing both 6-1. Cerúndolo refrained from celebrating the victory out of respect for his opponent.
Sinner's early exit follows a pattern of top seeds struggling at this year's tournament, which has seen several upsets. The Italian's defeat also opens up the draw for other contenders, including Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud. For more on Sinner's exit, see our report: Top seed Jannik Sinner exits French Open in second round due to heat illness.
What's Next for Fonseca
Fonseca will face Norway's Casper Ruud, the 2023 runner-up, in the fourth round on Friday. Ruud advanced after a straight-sets win over Alejandro Tabilo. The match promises to be a test of Fonseca's stamina and skill against one of the tour's most consistent clay-court players.
Brazilian tennis fans, long awaiting a successor to Kuerten, have reason for optimism. Fonseca's aggressive baseline game and powerful forehand have drawn comparisons to the former world number one. Whether he can sustain this level against Ruud remains to be seen, but his performance against Djokovic has already made him a name to watch.
The French Open continues through the weekend, with the men's final scheduled for Sunday. For updates on other matches and controversies, including the debate over tennis dress codes, see: Naomi Osaka's Gold Dress at Roland Garros Sparks Debate on Tennis Dress Codes.
