Djokovic: Fonseca Can Win Multiple Slam Titles

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 24, 2026
Photo credit: Julien De Rosa/AFP/Getty

Digging deep on dirt, Novak Djokovic felt French Open fans elevate him in an emotional high.

Slashing three straight aces, Brazilian phenom Joao Fonseca capped a furious fightback stunning Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 to battle into the Roland Garros fourth round for the first time.

If this was the Grand Slam king’s final French Open farewell, Djokovic went down swinging and felt like he was flying before festive fans roaring for the most superb tennis we’ve seen in the tournament.

Asked if this 22nd Roland Garros is his final French Open, Djokovic, who joins rival Rafael Nadal as the only two men with 100 or more career victories in Paris, said simply: “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Afterward, the 39-year-old Serbian superstar called the Chatrier Crowd “magical” and praised Fonseca’s potential as a future multiple major champion. Fonseca is the first teenager to defeat the former world No. 1 in a Grand Slam, snapping Djokovic’s 18-0 mark vs. teenagers in majors.

“A couple times where I felt like I was barely standing on my legs towards the end of the match, and looking at the crowd and seeing them lift my spirits and support me was something really magical, honestly,” Djokovic said of fans, who sometimes chanted “Novak! Novak!” in support. “So when I take out all the disappointment and negative thoughts about the match, you know, there’s a lot to be proud about, what I’ve been through, what I experienced, you know. I’m very grateful for this kind of experience,
yeah.”

It was just the second time in his storied career Djokovic failed to close out a two-set lead in a major following his 2010 Roland Garros quarterfinal loss to Austrian Jurgen Melzer from two sets up.

A fearless Fonseca slammed three of his 11 aces in a row to seal a four hour, 53-minute classic on the 25th anniversary of Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten’s 2001 Roland Garros title triumph.

Grand Slam king Djokovic said Fonseca has the firepower to master major championships.

“He definitely has the potential to do that. Things have to come together,” Djokovic said of Fonseca. “You know, of course, he’s very professional from what I’ve seen so far, the last couple of years he’s been on the tour, which is preconditioned for success.

“Talent, he’s got firepower. He’s got the whole Brazilian nation cheering him up, so there’s a lot of excitement around him, rightfully so. So hopefully he can be the next great thing, you know, win slams. Definitely wish to see that.”