Roland Garros 2026 Men’s Day 6

Joao Fonseca signalled a likely changing of the tennis guard in the strongest possible fashion as he delivered three straight aces to wrap up a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 defeat of Novak Djokovic on Friday at the French Open.

The 19-year-old Brazilian fought from two sets to love down for the second time this week in Paris to blow the draw wide open after a battle lasting for just under five hours.

Djokovic lost from two sets to love up for only the second time in his career; Juergen Melzer in 2010 performed the same miracle comeback against the 39-year-old Serb.

The record 24-time Grand Slam singles champion had won 11 of his previous 14 five-set matches at Roland Garros.

Fonseca saved a break point as he served in the fifth set for the biggest victory of his career. He fired more than 40 forehand winners in his upset.

The winner could barely take it all in.

“I didn’t believe I could win it, I just played and enjoyed being on the court. What a pleasure it was playing this idol.

“It was my first time stepping on court with him, I was just taking it all in.

“I’m just very happy.”

Djokovic looked like cruising as he won the opening pair of sets before the afternoon heat and pace of play from the youngster began to take a toll.

Fonseca slowly worked his way back into the contest with his Brazilian fans doing their best to cheer their latest tennis hero.

“I was not thinking about strategy, I was just trying to hit the ball as hard as i could,” the winner said. “Djokovic doesn’t miss, we all think he’s still in his 20s.

“I’d say at the end he was more fit than me, it’s crazy.”

Fonseca said that as afternoon heat dissipated, his shotmaking power increased.

“As it started getting darker I felt I could produce more power for sure. At the heart I was struggling with the heat.

“I was not feeling very good at the start, but then I felt better.”

He added: “I never believed that I could do three straight aces, never done that before. I never thought I could finish like that.

 Andrey Rublev backed up his Paris fourth-round showing from a year ago with a 7-5, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) defeat of Portugal’s Nuno Borges.

The 11th seed with a best here of the quarter-finals, defeated Nunes for the fifth time without a loss. 

“I was able to win in straight sets, and in some crucial moments when he had

opportunity to lead, I was able to stay there,” the winner said

“I was able to recover and to play well or serve well or hit a good winner. I was always able to come back.

Rublev is still working to break past the quarter-final barrier, where he has stalled 10 times at the majors.

Spain’s Rafael Jodar needed four and a quarter hours to get past Alex Michelsen, – both wearing the exact same kit down to caps and socks – 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The 29th-ranked Jodar, 19, playing in his second career major, won his 18th match of the season against three losses as he reached the fourth round for the first time.