Novak Djokovic has been sensationally knocked out of the French Open after losing a five-set epic against 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca.
The 39-year-old third seed – a big favourite for the title with Carlos Alcaraz injured and Jannik Sinner suffering a surprise defeat on Thursday – flew out to a 5-1 lead in the first set in their third-round encounter, but Fonseca roared back to 5-4 only for Djokovic to keep his composure and serve it out.
A tight second set was pinched by Djokovic 6-4, but his teenage opponent then hit back to win the third 6-3 via some outstanding play.
Fonseca then moved a break ahead in the fourth and consolidated for 2-0, but the Brazilian was broken back when 30-0 up and then missed two further break points at 4-4 in a dramatic game Djokovic survived.
Fonseca kept his head to break the Serbian again at 5-5, however, serving out the fourth set thrillingly to take things to a fifth.
Fonseca played some inspired tennis to beat Djokovic at Roland Garros
After allowing an ailing Djokovic to break him, Fonseca proceeded to come back from 3-1 down in the decider, capping off a sensational 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 7-5 victory.
The contest lasted four hours and 53 minutes – the second longest at Roland Garros this year – while temperatures reached 33 degrees.
Djokovic’s defeat – from a position of two sets ahead – is a huge shock, and comes a day after Jannik Sinner was knocked out
Djokovic’s defeat means the 39-year-old’s wait to go past Margaret Court’s mark of 24 Grand Slam victories will continue in the twilight of his career, and also further opens up the draw in Paris a day after Sinner’s shock exit.
Djokovic, who cut a frustrated figure on Wednesday in his victory over Frenchman Valentin Royer – shushing the crowd, claiming they had ‘no respect’ and being booed by them – shouted at a camera operator on Friday when two sets up, requesting more space at the change of ends with the camera getting up close and personal.
By contrast, Fonseca was the picture of calm despite his tender years and lack of experience on the professional circuit, remarkably retaining composure and a wonderful ability to strike baseline winners with both forehand and backhand en route to wrapping up a stunning success.
Fonseca: I never believed I could actually win – ‘It’s crazy’
Fonseca speaking courtside:
“I actually didn’t believe I could win the match, I just played and enjoyed being on the court. What an idol we have and what a pleasure it was to step on the court against him – it was my first time – so I thank him, I am very happy.
“I was not thinking, I was just trying to hit the ball as fast as I could, I mean Djokovic doesn’t miss and we still think he’s 20. At the end of the match he was more fit than me, which is crazy, and when the day was getting darker I felt it was much slower, which was better as I could produce more power for sure.
“In the beginning I was struggling with the heat, I just touched the ball and it would fly, and I was not feeling good.
“I just believed I could do aces, it was crazy. I have never done that before I am super happy that I could finish like this.”
Djokovic: Fonseca was amazing
Djokovic speaking post-match:
“An incredible match to be part of. Obviously, tough one for me to lose being two sets to love up, but huge credit to Joao for really deserving to win the match. I think he, without a doubt, was the better player in important moments in those crucial fourth and fifth. Some amazing exchanges and points. He just found incredible shots, lines. It was just amazing from his side. Obviously not great for me to be facing a player playing in such level, but I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong with my game. It’s just that he was just better.
“I congratulated him and told him he deserved to win and he played an unbelievable match and wished him good luck for the rest of the tournament. The kind of tennis we’ve seen him play has created a lot of hype around him. And I think we’ve all seen that hype around him. The level was amazing.”
Another 19-year-old makes fourth-round…
Elsewhere, former quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev was tested by Portugal’s Nuno Borges, but the Russian 11th seed stayed cool in the tiebreaks to win 7-5 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-2) in the third round.
Exciting 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar is also through after digging in to come through a five-set contest against American Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (5-7) 4-6 6-3 6-3.
Czech 26th seed Jakub Mensik bounced back from a bagel to beat Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur 0-6 6-2 6-2 6-3, reaching the French Open fourth round for the first time.
Dutch world number 106 Jesper de Jong stunned Russian 13th seed Karen Khachanov 7-5 5-7 6-2 6-7(2) 6-2 to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
Four-time winner Swiatek cruises into last 16
Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek cruised past fellow Polish player Magda Linette 6-4 6-4 to set up a fourth-round clash with Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk.
Ukrainian 15th seed Kostyuk stormed into the fourth round with a 6-4 6-3 win over Swiss player Viktorija Golubic.
Swiatek has won all three of their previous matches comfortably, but Kostyuk will head into this one high on confidence.
“I definitely have a different feeling going into this match, because I feel like last time that I played her in Cincinnati, I lost this match way before it even started, and I don’t feel the same this time,” she said.
“I’m still the person who lost to her three times, and she’s won this tournament four times. So, I would love to be the one who is a favourite in this match, but I still don’t think it’s the case, even though I have this really long streak.
“But it’s not going to ruin my day or ruin my game. I have never taken a set off her. Even if I win one set in the next match, I’m going to be very happy. That’s how I look at it, and I’m excited for this match.”
Swiatek was again a little up and down but is yet to lose more than four games in a set after seeing off Linette.
She said of Kostyuk: “Marta is having a great season. She always had a game to play well. Did some semi-finals of big tournaments before. Now she won Madrid. So good for her.”
Last year’s semi-finalist Russian Mirra Andreeva brushed aside Czech Marie Bouzkova 6-4 6-2 to reach the fourth round.
Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, ranked 170th in the world, stunned Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova 6-1 7-5 in the third round. Teichmann will take on last year’s semi-finalist Russian eight seed Andreeva in the last 16.
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