Joao Fonseca beat Novak Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in the French Open third round, ending Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Fonseca, 19, recovered from two sets down at Roland Garros to secure the biggest win of his career and reach the next round. The match lasted nearly 5 hours in difficult conditions.
Djokovic praised Fonseca after the defeat, saying the Brazilian teenager played better in the decisive stages. The 24-time Grand Slam champion said he was disappointed with the result but credited Fonseca’s aggressive and composed play.
The Associated Press reported that Fonseca became the first teenager to defeat Djokovic in a Grand Slam match. It was also only the second time Djokovic lost a major match after leading by two sets.
Djokovic had taken control early by winning the first two sets, but Fonseca turned the match around with a stronger finish across the final three sets.
Read: French Open 2026 Starts Without Carlos Alcaraz
The defeat stopped Djokovic’s latest attempt to move ahead of Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam singles record of 24 titles.
