Joao Fonseca made his mother’s birthday unforgettable by pulling off a stunning upset against Novak Djokovic at the 2026 French Open. In a thrilling five-set match, Fonseca came back from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, marking his first-ever advance to the fourth round of a Grand Slam.
French Open Day 6 Highlights
After the match, a delighted Fonseca expressed his joy and dedicated the victory to his mother, who was cheering him on from the stands. “First, I need to make my mom’s day. Happy birthday, Mom, thank you very much,” he said.
The Brazilian crowd was electrifying, and their support fueled Fonseca’s determination. He took a moment to thank his fans and encouraged them to continue their support throughout his journey at Roland Garros. “Thank you to all the Brazilian crowd. Thank you, Brazil! We keep moving forward, we believed, and now we’re in the fourth round. Let’s go all in from here. Thank you!” he exclaimed.
Fonseca’s Respect for Djokovic
Fonseca showcased impressive skills during the match, firing 11 aces. He admitted it was a challenge to play against Djokovic’s remarkable consistency. “I wasn’t thinking about the conditions changing,” he said. “I was just trying to hit the ball as fast as I could. Djokovic just doesn’t miss. At times, he seemed more fit than I was, which is crazy.”
He noted that as the day turned to evening, the conditions became easier for him. “It was slightly slower, which helped me add some power. In the beginning, the heat was tough, but I eventually found my rhythm,” he added.
Looking ahead, Fonseca is set to face either Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul in the next round.
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