19-year-old Joao Fonseca created history by becoming the first teenager to beat Novak Djokovic at a major, knocking the 24-time champion out of the French Open after a sensational comeback from being two sets down in a nearly five-hour epic.
In yet another shocking upset at the French Open, the 19-year-old Joao Fonseca outclassed 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, becoming the first-ever teenager to beat the Serbian icon at a major event. Fonseca made a sensational comeback from being two sets down, bringing down the curtains to Djokovic’s campaign by 6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, just hours after Jannik Sinner, the world number one, was stunned by Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Fonseca slammed the door shut on Djokovic’s dream of a 25th Grand Slam title in an epic that lasted four hours and 53 minutes.
‘An idol we have’: Fonseca in disbelief
In absolute disbelief, Fonseca said after the match, as quoted by ATP’s official website, “I actually did not believe I could win. I just played, I just enjoyed being on court. What a pleasure it was, and what an idol we have. It is a pleasure just stepping on the court against him. It is my first time stepping on court against him, so just thanking him, and I am very happy.”
The turning point
Fonseca was just five points away from what seemed an imminent loss, serving at 3-4, 15/40 in the fourth set, but the 28th seed fended off those two break points and continued the momentum to take the match into a decider. Djokovic had moments of physical struggles, but the 39-year-old was quick to get a 3-1 lead in the final set. But Fonseca fought and fought, getting six of the final eight points, notching a win for the ages, his second against a top-10 star after outclassing Andrey Rublev at the 2025 Australian Open.
How changing conditions helped Fonseca
“I was not thinking about [the conditions changing],” Fonseca said. “I was just trying to hit the ball as fast as I could. I mean, Djokovic, he just does not miss. We still think he is 20. At the end of the match, I think he was more fit than me, it is crazy.”
“But I felt as the day was getting darker, it was a bit slower, and for me, that was better because I could produce a little bit more power for sure. In the beginning, I was struggling a little bit with the heat, because I touched the ball and it just went. Then after, I felt better,: he continued.
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