Brazilian teenager, João Fonseca, produced one of the biggest upsets in recent Grand Slam history by rallying from two sets down to eliminate Novak Djokovic from Roland Garros, ending the Serbian’s bid for a record 25th major singles title.
Djokovic appeared to be cruising toward the fourth round after taking the opening two sets, but the 19-year-old Brazilian mounted a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 victory in a gripping contest that lasted four hours and 53 minutes.
The defeat marks a significant setback for Djokovic, who was seeking to move ahead of Margaret Court and claim sole ownership of the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles.
With both Carlos Alcaraz absent from the tournament and Jannik Sinner already eliminated, the Serbian had been viewed as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in Paris.
After dropping the first two sets, Fonseca faced a daunting challenge against a player who entered the match with a remarkable 289-1 record in Grand Slam matches when leading by two sets.
Yet the Brazilian steadily shifted the momentum, drawing energy from the crowd while displaying increasing confidence on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The teenager’s powerful serving became a decisive weapon as the match wore on. While Djokovic struggled under the intense Paris heat, Fonseca seemed to grow stronger, consistently finding answers to the veteran’s experience and resilience.
“I felt like John Isner,” the teenager joked before thanking all of his fellow Brazilians in the crowd.
The defining moment came late in the fifth set with the score locked at 5-5. Fonseca chased down a Djokovic drop shot and responded with a delicate backhand touch of his own, leaving the Serbian rooted in disbelief as the momentum swung firmly in the youngster’s favour.
Serving for the match at 6-5, Fonseca held his nerve brilliantly. After a tense exchange of points, he fired three consecutive aces past Djokovic to complete the stunning turnaround and spark celebrations among the Brazilian supporters.
A very happy Fonseca paid homage to his opponent during his TNT interview while trying to catch his breath.
“I mean, what an idol we have. It’s a pleasure just stepping on the court against him,” he said of Djokovic. “Just thanking him.”
The teenager also took time to acknowledge his mother in the stands, wishing her a happy birthday after a memorable night for his family in the French capital.
Despite the disappointment, Djokovic showed his sportsmanship by warmly embracing Fonseca at the net following the match-winning ace.
“I told him that he deserved to win,” the Serbian said during his press conference. “He played an unbelievable match and should be proud of himself. I am wishing him good luck for the rest of the tournament.”
When asked whether the defeat could prove to be his final appearance at Roland Garros, Djokovic offered an uncertain response.
“I don’t know.”
The result leaves the men’s draw wide open and guarantees a first-time Grand Slam champion in men’s singles for the first time since the Australian Open in 2024.
Fonseca’s reward is a fourth-round clash against Casper Ruud, who advanced after battling back from two sets down to defeat Tommy Paul on Friday.
