Star Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the 3rd round of Roland-Garros on Friday by the young Joao Fonseca, 19 years old, the day after the fall of world number one Jannik Sinner, in a heat fatal to the favorites.

The 39-year-old man with 24 Grand Slam titles led two sets to zero before succumbing to the fury of the world's 30th-ranked player, considered one of the rising stars of the circuit, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, in 4 hours and 53 minutes.

After the withdrawal of two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and the elimination of Sinner, the fall of the former world number one, now 4th, is another shock for a tournament that has become unpredictable due to historically high temperatures.

Alexander Zverev (3rd) becomes the highest-ranked player in contention, but the German still needs to overcome the curse of favorites in the evening against Frenchman Quentin Halys (90th) to qualify for the round of 16.

The second week looks extremely open, and will crown, whatever happens, a player who has never been crowned Grand Slam champion.

Ascent

Hailed as the greatest player of all time by his opponent Fonseca before the match, "Djoko" leaves Paris unceremoniously. His strategy of conserving as much as possible a body weakened by injuries – only one match on clay before Paris – did not pay off.

This is only his second defeat in the 3rd round at Roland-Garros (against 19 wins) after the one conceded against the German Philipp Kohlschreiber in 2009. At the time he only had one Grand Slam title.

His quest for a historic 25th title - he shares the record of 24 Grand Slam titles with Australian Margaret Court - now passes through the grass of Wimbledon (June 29-July 12).

Fonseca will face Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul in the round of 16, hoping to continue to defy expectations in a crazy fortnight.

Joao Fonseca celebrates his victory against Novak Djokovic, in the 3rd round of Roland-Garros, May 29, 2026.

Joao Fonseca celebrates his victory against Novak Djokovic, in the 3rd round of Roland-Garros, May 29, 2026. © Pierre René-Worms / RFI

The Brazilian overcame the loss of the first two sets by taking more risks in his game, to the point of surprising the Serb. His powerful forehands brought the Philippe-Chatrier court to its feet.

In the fifth set, he immediately responded to Djokovic, who had broken him first. The rest of the match was thrilling, with neither player giving an inch. Fonseca emulated his Serbian role model with a superb drop shot to break back and take a 6-5 lead.

He completed his masterpiece by hitting three aces in a row - the first to save a break point, the next two to secure his qualification.

Swiatek assure

The draw, emptied of those who have dominated the circuit in recent years, whets the appetite of a pack of contenders, among whom we also find the young Spaniard Rafael Jodar, 29th in the world at 19 years old.

The new rising star of Spanish tennis, winner of 18 out of 21 matches on clay this season, tamed American Alex Michelsen (42nd), 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (5/7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 4h16.

"I'm trying to follow my own path, and I'm trying to develop as a player, with my own mindset," said the player who will face Pablo Carreno Busta, a former Top 10 player now relegated to 89th place, in a Spanish derby on Sunday.

Czech Jakub Mensik (27th), 20 years old, also carried the banner of a triumphant youth at Porte d'Auteuil by beating the No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur, 0-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.

In the women's draw, which remains very competitive, the favorites lived up to expectations. Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek (3rd) defeated her fellow Polish player Magda Linette (35th) 6-4, 6-4. She will face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (15th), undefeated on clay this year with titles in Rouen and Madrid, in the round of 16.

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (7th) eliminated German Tamara Korpatsch (95th) 6-2, 6-3, while Russian Mirra Andreeva (8th) also had no trouble against Czech Marie Bouzkova (28th) 6-4, 6-2.