Novak Djokovic pulled out all the stops on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday, as he chased an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam at the French Open. But the Serb was denied a chance at glory by 19-year-old João Fonseca, who staged a comeback for the ages in their third-round thriller.
During his press conference, Djokovic reflected on the match, noting that he was beaten fair and square by an opponent who was a cut above during crucial moments of the contest.
João Fonseca Receives Recognition From Novak Djokovic After French Open Win
At the age of 39, Djokovic managed to produce a level previously unheard of, pushing an opponent 20 years his junior to the limits until the final point of the match. When the first two sets went the Serb’s way, the tennis community was almost certain that he would close out the match like he’s always done.
But Fonseca had different plans. He continued to challenge the legend fearlessly despite the two-set disadvantage. He caught a break early in the third set and kept his belief alive to force a fourth set. The 19-year-old ultimately edged out the veteran in the neck-and-neck battle to clinch the fourth and the fifth sets, winning the match 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5.
In his press conference, Djokovic said, “Incredible match to be part of. Obviously, tough one for me to lose, being two sets to love up. But huge credit to João for really deserving to win the match.”
The Serb admitted that Fonseca was clutch during decisive moments of the match, which ultimately helped him cross the finish line.
“He, without a doubt, was the better player in the important moments, in those crucial fourth and fifth. Some amazing exchanges, and points and he just found incredible shots and lines. It was just amazing from his side.”
Djokovic added that he spared no effort and was beaten by a better player on the day. “Obviously, not great for me to be facing a player playing such a level. I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong with my game. He was just better.”
Fonseca, who hails from Brazil, has already established a massive fan base given the country’s sporting legacy. The player enjoys overwhelming support around the globe despite being relatively new on the tour. About the hype around Fonseca, Djokovic said:
“I congratulated him and told him that he deserved to win and played an unbelievable match and he should be proud of himself. Wishing him good luck for the rest of the tournament. The kind of level of tennis we’ve seen him play created a lot of hype around him, and I think we’ve all seen today why there is hype around him. Just the level was amazing.”
According to OptaAce, Fonseca is now only the second teenager to beat Novak Djokovic at a Grand Slam after Rafael Nadal, who beat the Serb at the French Open 20 years ago. The Brazilian would look to carry the momentum from the historic victory as he awaits either Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul in the fourth round.
