Though it was solely a third-round match, the stakes may hardly have been larger for Friday’s French Open showdown between Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca.
With solely two gamers — Djokovic included — ranked within the high 5 nonetheless remaining in an upset-filled event, the 39-year-old appeared to have a really lifelike likelihood of capturing Grand Slam title No. 25.
However Fonseca had different concepts — and maybe has concepts of his personal main triumph. There may be nonetheless an extended option to go earlier than that comes into actual view, however the 19-year-old got here up with the most important win of his profession by beating Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 after 4 hours and 53 minutes. It was Fonseca’s second consecutive comeback from two units down, having earlier achieved the feat in opposition to Dino Prizmic on Wednesday.
This consequence, in fact, was much more unbelievable. In any case, Djokovic had been 301-1 lifetime in best-of-five matches after profitable the primary two units — together with his solely such loss coming in opposition to Jurgen Melzer 16 years in the past at Roland Garros.
Even after leveling the match at two units apiece, Fonseca as soon as once more fell behind 3-1 within the fifth. Nevertheless, the Brazilian hit again with breaks within the fifth and eleventh video games of the decider. Serving at 6-5, although, it was nonetheless removed from over. Djokovic seized a break likelihood at 30-40 solely to see Fonseca finish the match in unimaginable trend — with three straight aces.
“I really didn’t [believe I could win],” the world No. 30 stated throughout his on-court interview. “I simply performed. I simply loved being on court docket. What a pleasure it was and what an idol we’ve. It’s a pleasure simply stepping on the court docket in opposition to him. It’s my first time stepping on court docket in opposition to him, so (I’m) simply thanking him and I’m simply very comfortable.”
“(It was) an unimaginable match to be a part of,” Djokovic assessed. “Clearly (a) robust one for me to lose being two units to like up, however large credit score to Joao for actually deserving to win the match. I believe he, certainly, was the higher participant in necessary moments in these essential fourth and fifth. Some superb exchanges and factors. Yeah, he simply discovered unimaginable photographs, traces. It was simply superb from his aspect.
“Clearly not nice for me to be dealing with a participant taking part in in such stage, however yeah, I don’t assume I’ve achieved an excessive amount of improper with my sport. It’s simply that he was simply higher.”
Djokovic’s departure comes at some point after Jannik Sinner struggled bodily throughout a five-set loss to Juan Manuel Cerundolo within the second spherical. That is the primary time in males’s Grand Slam historical past that not a single main champion has superior to the spherical of 16.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
