Joao Fonseca Defeats Novak Djokovic in Five Sets at 2026 French Open

Joao Fonseca defeated Novak Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in the third round of the 2026 French Open on May 29 at Roland Garros in Paris. The 19-year-old Brazilian ended the 39-year-old Serb's pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title. Temperatures reached 33 degrees C (91 F) during the match.

Djokovic won the first two sets with trademark defense and drop shots. Fonseca broke early in the third set and held on to tie the match. In the fifth set, Djokovic showed visible signs of fatigue and applied ice packs to both sides of his face during changeovers.

Djokovic had a break point opportunity at 5-5 in the fifth set. In the final game, Fonseca served three consecutive aces to close out the match. ESPN reported that Fonseca became the first teenager to defeat Djokovic in a Grand Slam tournament.

After the match, Djokovic told Fonseca that he deserved to win and should be proud. " Djokovic also said he was unsure if he would play at the French Open in 2027.

Fonseca said it was his first time facing Djokovic on court. "I just enjoyed being on court and what a pleasure it was," he said. " Fonseca added that he wished his mother happy birthday after the match.

Djokovic said he was barely standing on his legs toward the end of the match. ESPN reported that this was the second time Djokovic lost a Grand Slam match after winning the first two sets, the other also at the French Open in 2010. Fonseca will next face Casper Ruud in the fourth round.

Ruud defeated Tommy Paul 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 7-5. Second-seeded Alexander Zverev advanced with a 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Quentin Halys. Jannik Sinner lost in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

All previous men's major winners — Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Marin Cilic, and Stan Wawrinka — have been eliminated. The winner of the 2026 French Open men's singles will be a first-time champion. The final is scheduled for June 7 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.