JAKARTA - A surprise happened, Novak Djokovic was eliminated from the 2026 French Open after losing to the 20-year-old junior tennis player Joao Foseca, in the third round of Roland Garros, Saturday WIB.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was unable to stop the 19-year-old Brazilian who bounced back from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 after four hours and 53 minutes.
"Actually I don't believe I can win. I just play, I just enjoy being on the field," said Fonseca after the match, quoted by Antara from ATP.
"It's really nice to be able to fight against him. This is the first time I've fought against him, so I just thank him and I'm very happy.
Novak Djokovic congratulated Brazilian teenager Joao Foseca who managed to defeat him at the 2026 French Open. (Instagram @joaoffonseca)
After Jannik Sinner's shock defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Thursday (28/9), Fonseca bounced back to beat Djokovic to add intrigue to one of the most open Grand Slam tournament draws in recent times.
Fonseca was only five points away from defeat when serving at 3-4, 15/40 in the fourth set, but the 28th seed managed to fend off both break points and used the momentum to force a decisive set.
Djokovic sometimes looked physically struggling between points, but the 39-year-old quickly took a 3-1 lead in the fifth set.
But Fonseca fought back, winning six of the last eight games to record a brilliant victory at Philippe-Chatrier. This is his second victory against the top 10 after defeating Andrey Rublev at the 2025 Australian Open.
"I don't think about changing conditions. I just try to hit the ball as fast as possible. I mean Djokovic, he never misses. We still think he's 20 years old. At the end of the match, I think he's fitter than me, it's crazy," said Fonseca.
"But I feel as the day gets darker, the game gets a little bit slower and for me that's better because I can produce a little bit more energy."
With the victory in his first tour-level meeting against Djokovic, Fonseca became the first teenage tennis player to beat the Serbian at a Grand Slam.
Now advancing to the fourth round in a major tournament for the first time, Fonseca will face 15th-seeded Casper Ruud or 24th-seeded Tommy Paul to compete for a place in the quarterfinals in Paris.
According to ATP statistics, Fonseca scored two fewer winners, 68 to 70, and nine more own errors, 47-39, than Djokovic.
However, he was able to raise his game in crucial moments. Djokovic threatened to force a decisive tie-break, but Fonseca immediately unleashed three consecutive aces to finish with victory.
This is the second time Djokovic has lost after winning two sets. It also happened at Roland Garros, against Jurgen Melzer in 2010.
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