Fonseca ends Djokovic’s French Open campaign in five-set thriller

Nineteen-year-old Joao Fonseca has delivered a historic upset at the 2026 French Open, defeating Novak Djokovic in the third round to end the Serbian star’s hopes of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Fonseca overcame a two-set deficit to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in a match that lasted four hours and 53 minutes, marking the first time a teenager has beaten Djokovic at a major tournament.

The victory signals a significant shift in the tournament’s trajectory. Djokovic was the sole remaining player in the draw with a previous major title and was widely considered the favourite, particularly after world number one Jannik Sinner was eliminated earlier in the week. With Sinner out and Carlos Alcaraz skipping the clay-court event due to injury, Djokovic’s path to the title had appeared clear until Fonseca’s resurgence in the final two sets.

Fonseca’s performance was described as a testament to his composure under pressure. Battling in front of a raucous crowd, he recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the fifth set to secure the win. The result is only the sixth time a teenager has defeated Djokovic in an ATP Tour-level match overall, highlighting the rarity of such an achievement against one of the sport’s most enduring champions.

For Djokovic, the exit represents a notable anomaly in his French Open history. It is only the third time in 22 appearances that he has failed to reach the second week of Roland Garros. The loss leaves him without his primary opportunity to extend his major record, given the absence of his top rivals from the draw.

Fonseca advances to the fourth round, where he will face either two-time finalist Casper Ruud or American 24th seed Tommy Paul. He is joined in the second week by fellow 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, who has established himself as a genuine title contender by winning 18 of his 21 clay-court matches in 2026.