Jodar, Fonseca, Mensik Advance to French Open Quarterfinals After Five-Set Battles

Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar moved into his first Grand Slam quarterfinal after coming back from two sets down to beat Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on May 31, 2026 at Roland Garros. Jodar, who also played five sets in the previous round, will face second-seeded and former runner-up Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. Zverev defeated Jesper de Jong 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-1.

Fellow 19-year-old Joao Fonseca followed up his five-set victory over Novak Djokovic by beating two-time runner-up Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-6 (8), 5-7, 6-2. Fonseca became the first Brazilian man to reach the last eight in Paris since Gustavo Kuerten in 2004. Kuerten, a three-time champion at Roland Garros, was getting nearly as animated in the front row of the stands as Fonseca was on the court.

During his on-court interview, Fonseca called Kuerten "an idol for our sport, for our country, for his charisma," noting that Kuerten also showed up for his debut match in the Roland Garros junior tournament as a 15-year-old in 2022. Seated directly behind the court, Kuerten -- whose nickname is Guga -- was gesticulating and cheering for Fonseca from start to finish, and it even appeared that Fonseca was looking at him for inspiration on occasion.

Fonseca, who came back from two sets down against Djokovic, is known for his massive power and high-risk style.

When Ruud had the first of two set points in the second-set tiebreaker, Fonseca rushed the net on his serve and produced a drop-volley that Ruud couldn't get back. On his first match point, Fonseca followed his serve to the net again and produced a volley winner. "I played really good in the important moments," Fonseca said.

"I just try to be me on the court ... " Fans wearing the neon yellow shirts of Brazil's national soccer team chanted Fonseca's name after every big point. Up next, Fonseca will face 20-year-old Jakub Mensik, who held off a comeback from Andrey Rublev in a 6-3, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 win to become the youngest Czech man in a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Ivan Lendl in 1980.

It was Mensik's second five-set match of the tournament. Mensik collapsed to the clay with cramps upon edging Mariano Navone in a fifth-set tiebreaker after 4 hours, 41 minutes in the second round, then defeated Alex de Minaur in four sets despite losing the opening set 6-0. "It's a first time for me, new experience for me.

It's all heart," Fonseca said.