Djokovic’s French Open Loss to Teenager Fonseca Ensures a New Men’s Grand Slam Winner

Paris: There will be a new men’s champion at the French Open on Friday after Novak Djokovic trails Jannik Sinner to a stunning five-set win at Roland Garros.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca defeated 24-time champion Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in the third round after Thursday’s big upset; Last year’s runner-up, No. 1 Sinner, lost to No. 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

“After 10 minutes of the game, I was able to realize a little bit of what I had done, what I had accomplished,” Fonseca, 19, said. “How difficult and how surprising it was for me.”

Djokovic’s latest quest for a record 25th Grand Slam is over and it was the second time he lost in two sets; the other was in Paris in 2010.

Veterans Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka, as well as all the men’s major winners, have been eliminated, thus ensuring a new pair of hands to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy at Court Philippe-Chatrier on 7 June.

“Of course Jannik and Djokovic are out, there are more chances,” said Fonseca, who will face two-time runner-up Casper Ruud, who beat Tommy Paul 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 7-5.

Djokovic, 39, turned pale as the court slowed down in the evening coolness.

“It’s a tough match for me to lose,” Djokovic said. “Towards the end of the match I almost couldn’t stand on my legs.”

Djokovic had a break point at 6–6 in the final match, but Fonseca scored three consecutive aces to become the first young player to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam tournament.

“I enjoyed being on the field very much and what a pleasure it was. This was my first step on the field against him,” Fonseca said. “We still think he’s 20 years old. At the end of the game I think he’s fitter than me, it’s crazy.”

Fonseca wished his mother a happy birthday from the crowd and thanked all the Brazilians who came to watch.

Djokovic is doubtful This was not as big a sadness as the loss of Sinner because Djokovic came to Paris with doubts.

After losing the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, limited to one match on clay court due to a shoulder injury, Djokovic practiced for at least three hours in each of his previous two rounds before facing the full fury of Fonseca’s booming forehand.

“I think the level is really good, considering everything and all the conditions,” said Djokovic, whose last major title was the 2024 US Open.

The heat that stressed Sinner also affected Djokovic, who applied ice to both sides of his face during the exchange. Djokovic at one point scolded a television camera operator for getting too close to his face.

In the fifth set, he could not hide his tiredness: He bent over the billboards, his arms hanging down; He sank into his chair with a towel on his head; He held his head with his hands.

He was gracious in defeat.

“(After the match) I told him that he deserved to win and he should be proud of himself,” Djokovic said. he said. “Today we all saw why there was excitement around him.”

Djokovic said he wasn’t sure if he would play at the French Open next year, but he said the same after his semifinal defeat against Sinner last year.

Kostyuk continues on her way. Marta Kostyuk, who is still unbeaten on clay this season, reached the fourth round for the second time and had a big match against four-time champion Iga Swiatek in the women’s draw.

The 15th-ranked Ukrainian player defeated Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 6-3 on another hot day in Paris and extended her winning streak on clay to 15 matches.

In 2021, he lost to Swiatek in the fourth round. A rematch will take place after Swiatek defeated her Polish friend Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4.

Swiatek has won three straight against Kostyuk and has a 43-3 record at Roland Garros.

Elina Svitolina, in seventh place, was another Ukrainian woman who advanced. She defeated Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-3.

Double bagel Also advancing was 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea, who defeated Solana Sierra and became the oldest player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam tournament 6-0 6-0. He will then face China’s Wang Xiyu, who still hasn’t dropped a set.

Mirra Andreeva, ranked eighth, defeated her Czech opponent Marie Bouzkova with scores of 6-4 and 6-2 and became the leader in the women’s tour with 32 wins this season.