Another major upset rocked the men’s singles at the French Open on Thursday: Novak Djokovic, a global tennis icon, was stunned by 19-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca in a third-round shocker, bowing out in five sets.
At Roland-Garros in Paris, Djokovic fell 2-3 to Fonseca on the 29th, surrendering the match after taking the first two sets and ending his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title.
The 39-year-old veteran looked to have the match under control early with his experience and court craft. But as the contest stretched on, fatigue and the sweltering conditions began to take their toll, and Djokovic’s focus waned in the late stages. After nearly five hours, Fonseca completed a dramatic comeback to claim the victory.
Fonseca, visibly emotional, said he needed time to process the win. “Even after the match ended, it took me a while to realize it was real,” he said. “I’m slowly grasping what a huge achievement this is.”
Upsets have been a theme throughout this tournament. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev already eliminated, Djokovic’s exit further shakes up the title picture.
Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev maintained his composure. Zverev beat France’s Quentin Halys to reach the round of 16 and keep his pursuit of a first major title alive.
On the women’s side, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk extended her winning streak to 15 matches and kept up strong form. Kostyuk is set to face top contender Iga Świątek in the round of 16.
This year’s French Open has turned unpredictable as top names continue to fall, and the tennis world is watching to see how far 19-year-old Fonseca’s surge will go.
Photo: AP / Yonhap Newsn
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