The French Open will see a new men’s champion this year after Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set match. Fonseca, just 19 years old, overcame the 24-time major winner with scores of 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in the third round.
This victory follows another major upset, with top-seeded Jannik Sinner also exiting the tournament earlier. Fonseca’s win is notable as it is only the second time Djokovic has lost after leading by two sets, with the previous instance occurring in Paris in 2010.
Fonseca expressed his astonishment at the achievement, stating, “Ten minutes after the match I could realize a little bit what I did, what I achieved. How difficult it was and how amazing it was for me.” He now advances to face two-time runner-up Casper Ruud in the next round.
Djokovic’s Challenges
Djokovic entered the French Open with some doubts, having struggled with a shoulder injury and limited preparation on clay courts. Despite these challenges, he managed to push through the earlier rounds but ultimately succumbed to Fonseca’s powerful play.
During the match, Djokovic showed signs of fatigue, particularly in the cooler evening conditions. He was seen applying ice packs and appeared visibly exhausted by the fifth set. Despite the loss, Djokovic was gracious, acknowledging Fonseca’s performance and telling him he deserved the win.
Djokovic’s future participation in the French Open remains uncertain, as he hinted at possibly not returning next year, a sentiment he also expressed after a previous loss to Sinner.
Women’s Matches
In the women’s draw, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk continued her unbeaten streak on clay, advancing to the fourth round after defeating Viktorija Golubic. Kostyuk will face four-time champion Iga Swiatek next. Swiatek has a strong record at Roland Garros, having defeated Kostyuk in their previous encounters.
Other notable performances include Elina Svitolina’s victory over Tamara Korpatsch and Sorana Cirstea’s dominant win against Solana Sierra, making her the oldest player to achieve a 6-0, 6-0 victory in a Grand Slam tournament.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
