Event
Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca defeated Novak Djokovic in the third round of the French Open on Friday, ending the Serbian's quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title. Fonseca, 19, rallied from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in four hours and 53 minutes. He advances to the last 16 for the first time at a major and will face either Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul.
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Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca rallies from two sets down to defeat Novak Djokovic in the third round, marking the first time a teen has beaten the Serbian at a major tournament.
Background
Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca defeated Novak Djokovic in the third round of the French Open on Friday, 29 May 2026, ending the Serbian’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Fonseca, 19, rallied from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in four hours and 53 minutes, marking the first time a teenager has beaten Djokovic at a major tournament. This result follows the shock second-round exit of world number one Jannik Sinner, who collapsed due to extreme heat (84°F) against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, marking the first time a men’s number one seed has exited in the second round or earlier since Andre Agassi. Fonseca advances to the last 16 for the first time at a major and will face either Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul.
Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca defeated Novak Djokovic in the third round of the French Open on Friday, 29 May 2026, ending the Serbian’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Fonseca, 19, rallied from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in four hours and 53 m
Fact cards
Key entities: Novak Djokovic, Joao Fonseca, French Open, Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul, Brazil, Serbia.
Pre-tournament: Jannik Sinner enters the French Open as the -275 favourite, the second-shortest pre-tournament odds at a Grand Slam since at least 1990. Pre-tournament: Rafael Jodar establishes himself as a title contender by winning 18 of his 21 clay-court matches in 2026. Frida
Timeline
Jannik Sinner enters the French Open as the -275 favourite, the second-shortest pre-tournament odds at a Grand Slam since at least 1990.
Rafael Jodar establishes himself as a title contender by winning 18 of his 21 clay-court matches in 2026.
Joao Fonseca defeats Novak Djokovic in the third round, rallying from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in four hours and 53 minutes.
Fonseca advances to the fourth round for the first time at a major tournament.
World number one Jannik Sinner is eliminated in the second round by Juan Manuel Cerundolo after collapsing due to heat exhaustion while leading 5-1 in the third set.