New Men's Champion Assured at French Open After Djokovic Defeat
Joao Fonseca's victory over Novak Djokovic in the third round of the French Open ensures a fresh face will lift the men's singles trophy, marking the end of Djokovic's bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
A new men's champion will emerge at the French Open following Joao Fonseca's stunning upset of Novak Djokovic in a five-set match, with scores of 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. This defeat not only eliminated Djokovic, a 24-time major winner, but also followed the earlier exit of top seed Jannik Sinner, who lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Fonseca, 19, expressed his disbelief at his victory, stating, "Ten minutes after the match I could realize a little bit what I did, what I achieved."
Djokovic's attempt to secure a record 25th Grand Slam title was thwarted in a match marked by physical demands, particularly in the later sets. He noted, "I was barely standing on my legs toward the end of the match," highlighting the effect of the court's slowing conditions. In a gracious acknowledgment of Fonseca's skill, Djokovic said he told the young player he deserved to win.
Fonseca will next compete against Casper Ruud, while Alexander Zverev advanced to the fourth round with a victory over Quentin Halys. Meanwhile, Marta Kostyuk continues her strong performance in the women's draw, reaching the fourth round and setting up a match against four-time champion Iga Swiatek. Additionally, Sorana Cirstea made history with a 6-0, 6-0 win, becoming the oldest player to achieve such a result in a Grand Slam event.