Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca knocked out Novak Djokovic in the third round of the French Open on Friday to scupper the Serbian great's latest quest for a record 25th Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic’s latest quest for a record 25th Grand Slam ended with a defeat to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in the third round of the French Open on Friday.
The 19-year-old Fonseca rallied from two sets down for the second straight match to stun Djokovic, winning 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 after four hours and 53 minutes.
Fonseca is through to the last 16 of a major for the first time. He will next play two-time Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud.
"What an incredible match to be part of," said Djokovic. "Huge credit to Joao for really deserving to win the match. Without a doubt he was the better player in crucial moments."
Djokovic's exit comes a day after the shock elimination of world number one and red-hot title favourite Jannik Sinner.
Read moreSinner eliminated from French Open under scorching temperatures
It means there will be a first-time men's Grand Slam champion this year at the French Open, ending a run of nine successive majors won by Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz.
A wide-open draw could pave the way for Alexander Zverev to get his hands on an elusive Grand Slam trophy. Second seed Zverev, a three-time runner-up at the majors including two years ago in Paris, saw off Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in the night session.
Dutchman Jesper de Jong took down 13th seed Karen Khachanov in five sets to also reach the last 16 for the first time.
Andrey Rublev beat Nuno Borges in straight sets, while Jakub Mensik dumped out eighth seed Alex de Minaur 0-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Swiatek and Svitolina move on
Iga Swiatek booked her place in the last 16 of the women's draw with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Magda Linette in an all-Polish affair. Four-time women's champion Swiatek dug herself out of an early 2-0 hole against the 35th-ranked Linette, who won their most recent meeting at Miami in March.
Swiatek broke three times in the opening set to nose ahead, and then surged into a 4-1 lead in the second set.
She overcame a stumble as she tried to close it out, before sealing victory to set up an intriguing match-up with the in-form Marta Kostyuk.
Kostyuk, the 15th seed, continued her fine run with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic. She is unbeaten in 15 matches on clay this season following titles in Madrid and Rouen.
Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva swept into the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova.
Elina Svitolina extended her winning run to nine matches, easing into the second week with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Tamara Korpatsch.
Svitolina, who ended an eight-year wait for another WTA 1000 title in Rome, meets Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarter-finals.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
