As Novak Djokovic limped back to his chair four hours into a tennis match that had descended into hell, the 24-time grand slam winner did not have much more to give. His hard-earned two-set lead had unravelled and his 39-year-old body had hit a wall against a shining opponent 20 years his junior. Having reached the umpire’s chair, Djokovic vomited the contents of his stomach into the red dust.
Still, nobody in the long history of this sport has mastered the art of finding victories from miserable positions, and so everybody inside Court Philippe-Chatrier still knew he could conjure a path through. It took the most courageous, headstrong performance from João Fonseca to refuse his legendary opponent any path back, with the 19-year-old Brazilian holding on to produce a career-defining victory in front of a vibrating crowd, closing out his astounding 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 win over Djokovic after an immense four hours and 53 minutes on court.
We will have Tumaini Carayol’s courtside report online very soon, but for now it’s au revoir. Join us again on Saturday, to see what else this tournament can throw at us. Thanks for reading, and goodnight.
Here’s the rest of Friday’s news from Roland Garros and beyond.
Out of the top 16 seeds in the men’s draw, just five remain.
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Jannik Sinner -
Alexander Zverev
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Novak Djokovic -
Félix Auger-Aliassime
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Ben Shelton -
Daniil Medvedev -
Taylor Fritz -
Alex De Minaur -
Alexander Bublik -
Flavio Cobolli
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Andrey Rublev
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Jiri Lehecka -
Karen Khachanov -
Luciano Darderi -
Casper Ruud
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Valentin Vacherot
Next up for Fonseca: either Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul. The American led by two sets to love, but Ruud has just taken the third set 6-4.
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If you want to know more about tennis’ newest star, I would advise you read this interview with Donald McRae.
Let’s hear from João Fonseca. How did he believe he could win at two sets down? “I didn’t, really. It’s my first time stepping on court with [Djokovic], he’s a legend … I’m just really happy.”
“I wasn’t thinking about [the occasion], I was just trying to hit the ball as hard as I could,” Fonseca said, adding that the court slowed down as daylight faded, which helped him. “I felt like John Isner [hitting three aces] – I had no idea I could hit them like this.”
He thanks his mum – it’s her birthday! – and the Brazilian fans for backing him, and off he goes. We might be seeing a lot more of him here in the next nine days.
João Fonseca beats Novak Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5!
Incredible. Fonseca lashes down a third ace in succession, and an extraordinary comeback is complete. From two sets down, he has fought back to beat Novak Djokovic – only the second player in history to do so. What a match from both players, and what a moment for the 19-year-old.
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Fonseca drills a cross-court winner, but a couple of missed forehands leave things poised at 30-all. He looks to land on the baseline next, but sends it a couple of centimetres long. Break point, seen off with an imperious ace – and another unstoppable serve brings up match point …
Jesper de Jong has beaten Karen Khachanov 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-2. The lucky loser, ranked No 106 in the world, will play either Quentin Halys or Sacha Zverev next; their evening match is supposed to start in 20 minutes.
Final set: Fonseca *6-5 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Djokovic flicks the ball from under his feet and finds the corner – then adjusts to wrong-foot Fonseca with a volley. Two break points saved, but despite Djokovic getting a forehand missile back in play, another perfect drop shot puts Fonseca on the verge of a historic win.
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Final set: Fonseca *5-5 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Fonseca has only played two five-set matches in his career, and one of those was earlier this week. Still, he’s showing no sign of cramp or fatigue, chasing down a drop shot with something to spare. A delicate angled volley is returned with interest. It’s starting to feel like Fonseca’s night, and he finds a drop shot of his own to earn three break points …
Final set: Fonseca 5-5* Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Fonseca seemed to have the upper hand, but now faces a bit of pressure as he serves to keep the match alive. He drifts wide on the first point but backs it up with a big forehand and bigger first serve – and then an instinctive lob that just evades Djokovic’s racket. Djokovic takes time to recover his breath, then sends an aggressive return into the net.
Final set: Fonseca *4-5 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) At 40-15 down, Fonseca beams perhaps his hardest forehand winner yet. Djokovic is too tired to even be annoyed – but wins the next rally with a clinical shot down the line.
Final set: Fonseca 4-4* Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Fonseca clatters through another hold, with Djokovic saving his legs. He’s very much the wobbling prize fighter out there, clinging to his belt.
Here’s a stat for you: Djokovic’s record in best-of-five matches after winning the first two sets is 301-1. His only defeat from 2-0 up came against Jürgen Melzer at the 2010 French Open, when João Fonseca was three years old.
Final set: Fonseca *3-4 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) This is just ridiculous. Having dug out a game point, Djokovic has to withstand everything his young opponent can throw at him, before clipping a winner into an empty corner as Fonseca charges the net.
Final set: Fonseca *3-3 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Fonseca wins the first point with an overhead smash, but Djokovic gets back in the game by getting the better of a brief net battle. At 30-all, second serve, Djokovic gets it done – but Fonseca wins a brutal rally to take this game to deuce. The winner count: Djokovic 64-56 Fonseca.
Final set: Fonseca 3-3* Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Fonseca rattles through his service game, holding to love, and Djokovic looks to be struggling with his movement. We’ve said that before, of course.
Jakub Mensik (26) beats Alex De Minaur (8) 0-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
Mensik gets the job done, completing the comeback after losing the first set 6-0. There are now just three single-digit seeds left in the men’s draw: Alexander Zverev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Djokovic.
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Final set: Fonseca *2-3 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Can João Fonseca get off the canvas again? Well, he leads 15-30, and sets up two break points when a weary Djokovic nets. The first is rescued with an ace, but Fonseca prevails in the next rally, and breaks straight back!
Both before and after that game, Djokovic stopped next to the towel bin, and looked like he was about to throw up again. In between, an absolutely unplayable return game, breaking to love. A reminder – he is almost 20 years older than his opponent across the net.
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Final set: Fonseca 1-3* Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) This is the kind of moment that prime Djokovic would pounce on (although prime Djokovic wouldn’t be in a fifth set). Can he do it again? He punishes an underhit volley, steering his forehand home to lead 0-30, and Fonseca’s slice then drifts a fraction long. Three break points … sealed with an outrageous chop/drop shot at the net!
Final set: Fonseca *1-2 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Djokovic responds in kind, holding to 15. It feels like both players are easing off the gas after such an intense fourth set.
Final set: Fonseca 1-1* Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) João Fonseca holds to love, showing no signs of nerves or fatigue.
Jesper de Jong, who I may have called Jasper earlier, couldn’t close out the upset against Khachanov, who dominates the fourth-set breaker to take their match to a decider. Jakub Mensik, meanwhile, leads 4-2 in the fourth and is about to turf Alex De Minaur out of the tournament.
Final set: Fonseca *0-1 Djokovic (*next server; 2-2 in sets) Djokovic was off court for nearly 10 minutes, and can’t remember which side of the net to go to when he comes back. He’s a bit frazzled, but there’s no sign of that once play resumes, a lovely slice just dropping beyond Fonseca. Then, at the changeover, he’s sick at the side of the court.
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Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul will face the winner of this match in the last 16, the lucky devils. Paul still leads by one set to love, and we’re on serve at 5-4 to Ruud in the second.
It looks like Djokovic is heading off court, potentially taking a medical timeout. What a battle he’s in here, after winning the first two sets.
Fonseca levels at two sets all! Djokovic goes 15-30 up, but Fonseca wins another full-throttle point, and backs it up with an awkward volley that has enough behind it. Set point – and Djokovic’s return goes long!
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Updates! Mensik leads De Minaur 2-1 and has a break in the fourth … Ruud and Paul are on serve in the second set … and De Jong was a break up in the fourth against Khachanov, but we’re now back on serve.
Ole, ole, ole, João … the crowd are getting more and more behind the youngster, to Djokovic’s chagrin. Fonseca edges 15-30 up but his opponent slams the door with a vicious overhead smash. No matter – he digs out another break point and has too much power for Djokovic, ripping a winner into the corner to go 6-5 up. He’ll serve for the fourth set …
Many, many players have folded in this situation, but Fonseca doesn’t – he keeps his first serve on target, and holds when Djokovic shanks a return wide. Five-all in the fourth; Djokovic leads two sets to one.
Fonseca dictates the first two points of serve, moving 30-0 up. Pressure off? Of course not, as Djokovic immediately punishes a couple of lapses on serve. He then goes after Fonseca’s backhand side, and sees a 40th winner whip past him. A canny drop shot gets Djokovic back to deuce, and two points from victory …
Djokovic lands a ridiculous swerving shot down the line, but offers up a hand to Fonseca, suggesting it wasn’t what he intended. He’s hanging on, and holds to lead 5-4 in the fourth.
There was an odd moment after one point in that game, when Djokovic turned to the crowd and appeared to complain about a crying infant. Come on, Novak – don’t have a go at the bébé.
Incredible guts from Fonseca there, teetering on the brink of defeat but still playing aggressively. He continues in that vein here, claiming a break point but then sending a backhand into the tape of the net. The Brazilian fires in another angled winner that leaves Djokovic on his heels, but can only look and laugh at a ferocious ace down the middle.
Pressure on Fonseca at 15-30 down, and Djokovic is finding all the angles now, controlling the next point to earn two break points. Fonseca risks a trip to the net to save the first – then finds a huge second serve! He dominates the next two points, and urges the Brazilian fans in the house to make some noise.
Djokovic holds with little fuss, an attempted lob from Fonseca causing him brief concern before dropping a few inches beyond the baseline.
Elsewhere, Mensik has maintained his momentum against De Minaur, and leads the third set 4-0. In a battle of dark horses, Tommy Paul has claimed the first set 6-4 against Casper Ruud.
Any nerves from Fonseca? Nah, just a sliced cross-court winner to open the game. Djokovic retaliates with a vicious return, but it’s smooth enough sailing for Fonseca from there. Three-all in the fourth set.
Djokovic seems to be rediscovering his groove, powering through another service game with Fonseca sending one errant shot high into the stands. A big game coming up next, as the teenager tries to stay on terms …
Djokovic hustles through a hold, and from 30-love down on Fonseca’s serve, he turns up the pressure and forces a couple of loose points. At break point, Djokovic steps in on second serve and Fonseca can only find the net. We’re back on serve in the fourth set …
On Court 14, De Jong – a “lucky loser” who grabbed a place in the draw when Arthur Fils withdrew – leads Khachanov by two sets to one. The Dutchman won the set 6-2, the same score by which Jakub Mensik has taken the second set against De Minaur on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
Fonseca backs up the break with a clinical backhand down the line, and he’s in charge of the fourth set. Djokovic still leads 2-1, but his opponent is the better player right now.
On Lenglen, Casper Ruud – a two-time finalist here, losing to Rafa Nadal in 2022 and Djokovic in 2023 – is a break down to Tommy Paul in the first set.
Elsewhere, Jesper de Jong has carved out a 5-2 lead in the third set against Karen Khachanov, while Jakub Mensik leads Alex De Minaur 4-2 in the second after getting bageled in the first.
Fonseca won’t go away, though, pounding a forehand winner to earn another break. Djokovic has slowed down his serve – in fact, he gets a warning here, and when the point does get under way, Djokovic goes long. Fonseca breaks!
A reminder that Djokovic is the only grand slam winner left in the men’s draw – we’re still in the third round. He’s in a hole early in the fourth, three break points down as his timing deserts him … but he saves all three, wagging a finger after sending Fonseca the wrong way. Deuce …
Thanks, Daniel. So, can Fonseca serve this third set out? Djokovic isn’t about to make it easy for him, earning a break point as Fonseca’s first serve falters … but he misses his return on second serve. Deuce, and the Brazilian crashes down two straight aces. Game on, Djokovic leads 2-1.
Mensik is moving better now, retaliating to a 6-0 set by breaking De Minaur for 2-0 in the second, as Fonseca, the crowd now singing his name, thrashes a flat forehand to gain deuce as Djokovic seeks to stay in their third. This might yet mature into the best match of the tournament – and Niall Mcveigh is here to bring you the rest of it, the hold secured and the pretender preparing to serve out.
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Back on 14, Khachanov has levelled against De Jong, two 7-5 sets going in opposite directions while, on Chatrier, another hold for Fonseca means he’s a set away from taking a set back against Djokovic – who, I think, is denied credit for his hairline on account of his 24 grand slam titles. I wonder which gives him greater joy.
Another hold for Fonseca gives him 4-1 in the third, and he’s really comfy out there now, inasmuch as anyone ever can be against the freak of nature stood opposite. Djokovic also holds to lead 6-4 6-4 4-2, while De Minaur has bagelled Mensik in their first set.
Next on Lenglen: Casper Ruud (15) v Tommy Paul (24).
Svitolina is happy with how she played against a tricky opponent and pleased with her focus; she’s really enjoying it. She tries to always bring the fight and consistency – Paris is almost like her home slam in a way – and in Ukraine it was the only tournament streamed, so she always dreamed of just playing in it, never mind all these great matches.
Asked to speak on French, she thanks people for their support – in English – saying it means so much, ending with a “Merci beaucoup”.
Elina Svitolina (7) beats Tamara Korpatsch 6-2 6-3
These days, these wins are routine for Svito, who meets Stearns or Bencic next.
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Mensik is still running his last match out of his legs, down 0-4 … to a man dressed in a manner I’ll show you as soon as I’ve a full-length photo to do justice to the insipidity. In fairness to De Minaur, though, he’s started like Christian Coleman.
So Djokovic leads 6-4 6-4 0-3 and this match is maturing into a jazzer, the standard now probably the highest of any match I’ve watched this week.
Naturellement, Djokovic raises another break point … extinguished with a service winner … then a lob catches him at net, his overhead is tame, and he’s duly passed. Fonseca is being made to work for everything, and a drop so well disguised, Transfer would be proud, restores deuce. No matter: the Brazilian pushes through, outlasting The Goat in another wonderful rally to secure his consolidation, noising up the crowd en route back to his seat. Win or lose, this is everything he dreamed of, trading shots with the man in front of a jumping arena, and it’s beautiful to behold.
De Minaur and Mensik are under way, the latter having come through a fifth-set match tiebreak to get rid of Mariano Navone in the last round. Demon is the last person you want to play if your legs are heavy, and he breaks first up; meantime, Svitolina has righter herself, now up 6-2 4-2 on Korpatsch, and on Chatrier, Djokovic plays a brilliant break-back point, only to net one of the easier shots he’s attempted. Still, at deuce, he’s still in with a chance.
Yeah, Svito breaks back and holds for 6-2 2-2, as Fonseca agains gives it loads,Djokovic’s first service game of set three now up at around six minutes. And solid hitting from the back raises advantage for Fonseca, his third break point of the match, none taken so far … and this time, Djokovic nets a backhand! What a moment for the youngster, who isn’t out of this match yet; in the stands, his parents are up, and I can’t for a second imagine what the feels like. As per the below, I’m excited when my daughter successfully makes a salad dressing; Fonseca trails 0-2 but leads 2-0.
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Has Svitolina lost concentration? Not that I can talk, but after waltzing through the first set, she’s now 0-2 down to Korpatsch in the second; on Court 14, De Jong leads Khachanov 7-5 3-2 on serve.
Next on Mathieu: Alex de Minaur (8) v Jakub Mensik (26).
What a nice lad he seems, in total command of his intimidating talent. I’m excited to see him again, and the pretenders are massing behind the big two – him, Fonseca and Kouame are going to give them all sorts over the next decade.
Jodar is “super happy”, saying it’s a dream come true and he had to fight a lot – Michelsen, who was very generous at the end, competed well. He also thanks the crowd for their support, and says the main thing in this match was trying to be mentally there, fighting until the last point, and he’s happy and proud, not so much of the win but of giving everything.
In a slam, you have to play for longer, so you have to breathe well, try to recover in the changeovers, and not use a lot of energy during the match with celebrations; he felt the energy of the crowd during the whole match.
Finally, asked for something in French, he offers “Merci” and wishes PSG luck for tomorrow night’s Champions League final.
Back on Chatrier, Djokovic is serving for set two, absorbing all that Fonseca chucks at him – and it’s a lot. At 30-15, they hit from the back then, when the youngster ups the pace, Djokovic digs one out, then races in to punish a backhand winner cross-court. and from there, he serves out to lead 6-4 6-4, the good vibes consuming … until a cameraman comes too close, the scolding immediate.
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Rafael Jodar (27) beats Alex Michelsen 7-6(2) (5)6-7 4-6 6-3 6-3
Rafael Jodar is proper. The ability to up his level, as he did in set four, is special, so too his power, especially off that fearsome backhand. I don’t see him as a contender here, not yet, but he meets Carreno Busta next and you’d back him to sort that one.
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At 30-40, Jodar outlasts Michelsen in a sapping rally and, after four hours 15, he has match point…
Djokovic also holds for 5-3, having to strain but doing enough to keep Fonseca at arm’s length; Svitolina secures the first set against Korpatsch, 6-2.
Djokovic, who seems to have creases ironed into his shorts – the Vauxhall Tigra would not be for him – saves break-back point as Jodar cracks a sensational backhand winner, inside-out to break the sideline, and at 5-3 in the fifth, he’s a game away. Michelsen, though, competes like a madman, so there’s plenty of work still to do.
On Lenglen, Svitolina is serving for the set, up 5-2 on Korpatsch, while on Mathieu, Jodar has break point, another coruscating backhand doing the job. He still looks really fresh – mad given this is his first five-setter – and there’s something about him that reminds me of Juan Martin del Potro, I think the height and whipcrack forehand.
On 14, De Jong has taken the first set off Khachanov 7-5; on Chatrier, Djokovic has broken Fonseca, his consolidation giving him a 4-2 lead in the second. He’s still got too much for everyone on the tour bar the top two.
Amazing conduct from Michelsen, who sprints in to flick back a drop from just in front of the net, then charges back to retrieve a lob, then hares back to net to put away a stop-volley. And he parlays that buzz into two break points, drills a return on to the tootsies, and somehow, the injured man is back in a match that was almost gone just two games ago! What a contest this is, now level at 3-3 in the fifth as the clock ticks over the four-hour mark.
Jodar has a helluva backhand, a belter on the stretch and down the line putting Michelsen under pressure on serve. But he saves double-break point, secures his hold, and at 3-2 down in the fifth, with a break, he’s still in the match, just about.
It’s a proper contest on Chatrier now, Fonseca up 2-1 in set two but Djokovic serving at 30-15, and what a point he wins. The Brazilian ought really to finish it before it gets incredible, but he lays a drop, then loses the incredible net-exchange that follows, Djokovic stretching to save himself, saluting the crowd before securing his hold for 6-4 2-2.
Down 30-40, Michelsen whacks a forehand and I think it’s fractionally wide. The umpire comes for a look, up goes the finger, and Jodar leads 1-0 in the fifth. I’m enjoying him a lot but, for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s ready to get by Zverev, his likely quarter-final opponent, should he make it there
Fonseca holds well for 4-6 1-0 – and he also did a decent job in Licorice Pizza.
Both Djokovic and Jodar do the necessary, the former taking further treatment and the latter semi-shoving a ballgirl out of the road in the process of leaving court while gesticulating to his box. Jodar has to be a strong favourite to close out the match from here, but I’m really interested to see how Fonesca does now he’s sure he belongs.
Both Michelsen and Fonseca hold, forcing Jodar and Djokovic respectively to serve out their first and fourth sets; on Lenglen, Svitolina breaks Korpatsch then consolidates for 2-0 in the first.
But before we can continue, Michelsen summons the trainer to look at his back, which diverts my attention to Fonseca, who has a point to claw back a break. And doesn’t he do everything possible to force it, exploding into his groundstrokes until Djokovic nets. I don’t think he can save the set from here, but that rally tells me he’s starting to feel comfortable on court.
He has to fight to and through deuce to get there, but Fonseca holds for 5-2, forcing Djokovic to serve for the first set; Jodar does endorse the break, so also leads 5-2, a game away from forcing the decider we deserve.
Receiving at 1-2 3-2 30-all, Jodar goes down the line with a backhand that’s going wide … until it clips the net and lands in. He then hammers a forehand winner, with Michelsen caught at the net, and he’s been very good in this set, the break fully earned. But can he consolidate?
For those unfamiliar with the German, she’s been in the news this week:
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Next on Lenglen: Elina Svitolina (7) v Tamara Korpatsch.
I meant to note earlier, Cirstea demolished Sierra 6-0 6-0 – ouch – and meets Wang, a qualifier, next. That means Khachanov and De Jong are under way, the Dutchman up 1-0.
Be careful what you wish for. Fonseca was desperate to know what it’s like to play Djokovic and now hew does, down 4-1 and two breaks. He does, though, have time to settle into the match, but needing five sets to beat Prizmic suggests he’s not quite ready to beat the best ever at a major – especially with Sinner and Alcaraz out.
Teichmann speaks in French and no translation is forthcoming; in the absence of de toute façon j’aime la spéléologie or pour aller à la gare, I’m afraid I’m unable to translate, but she’s dead happy and rightly so. For a set, she played pretty much ass well as she can, then when her streak cooled, stayed calm as pressure rose, retrieving two breaks to beat a superb opponent – though one who didn’t produce close to her best level. I’ll be shocked if she beats Andreeva, but I’d never have picked her to win today.
Jil Teichmann beats Karolína Muchová (10) 6-1 7-5
Another loose backhand from Muchova and Teichman drops to her knees, laughing at the hilarity of it all. She’s into round four, where she’ll face Mirra Andreeva; she’s come a long way.
From 30-0, Muchova closes to 30-all, but a backhand swiped wide has her hitting her racket, match-point down…
We’re away on Chatrier. Fonseca – who was desperate to be drawn against Djokovic and have playing the greatest in his life – saves a break point with a fine backhand down the line … but there are two of them and he cedes the second, as consecutive unforced errors from Muchova donate Teichmann what might be the decisive break. At 6-1 6-5, the Swiss will now serve for the match.
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Teichmann does indeed hold, but I think Muchova has it in her to stay even and not become discouraged, but from 40-0, she’s suddenly under pressure at 40-30, a couple of errors upping the pressure. And a forehand into the net means deuce; might the match be here?
…and he does! He ought really to have gone down 2-0, but instead he’s up 2-1; I doubt even the cap hair he reveals when changing his top can upset him.
Teichmann sticks Muchova on the bike, as you would against someone with a leg situation, dancing a little jig when a drop brings her 0-30. And though, at 15-40, she goes long, an inside-out backhand on to the sideline seals the break-back – but can she hold for 5-5? Meantime, Michelsen is at 30-15 trying to serve out the third set against Jodar…
Teichmann holds, so Muchova must serve for a decider at 1-6 5-3; Michelsen holds against Jodar for 1-1 5-3, and if he can close out the set, he’ll feel like he’s a great chance of winning one of the next two.
Cirstea leads Sierra, who beat Paolini in round two, 6-0 3-0; Muchova takes a medical timeout to address an issue with her right leg, having had one of her breaks taken back, Teichmann leadig her 6-1 2-5, and off we go again.
Next on Chatrier: João Fonseca (28) v Novak Djokovic (3).
Andreeva says that it’s always difficult against Bouzkova – you really have to work the points to win them. She was happy to win the first set despite not playing that well, and happy she was aggressive throughout the match.
She likes it when it’s hot and the ball bounces more – she can give a good shape on it – but when she asked Rublev to finish his last match quickly so she could get the conditions she wanted, he said no, he was going to take it slowly, presumably so she’d have to win in adverse circumstances.
Otherwise, she’s sure her coach, Conchita Martinez, will have notes, and they’ll try to adapt her game to whoever the next opponent is.
Mirra Andreeva (8) beats Marie Bouzkova (27) 6-4 6-2
Andreeva is getting to that point where her basic level of performance is good enough to beat almost everyone; next for her comes Teichmann or Muchova.
Andreeva breaks Bouzkova again and at 6-4 5-2 is serving for the match; Jodar retrieves a break to trail Michelsen 3-1 in the third; and Muchova is all over Teichmann now at 1-6 5-1, a second break telling us that class is overriding form.
I should also note that Michelsen and Jodar are wearing identical outfits, the latter having changed to a blue cap.
I can confirm that the aforementioned salad dressing stained the worktops. Happily, the aforementioned 12-year-old then coated them – the worktops, not the salad dressing – in Cif, so that is now all over my hands. Anyhow, Jodar directs a backhand down the line but just wide, and suddenly, from serving for a 2-0 lead, he’s been broken thrice on the spin, trailing 3-0 in the third.
It takes him a while, but Michelsen endorses his break for 1-1 2-0, as Muchova preserves hers by holding from 0-40 down. She leads 4-1 in the second having lost the first 6-1, and on Chatrier, Andreeva is nearly there, leading Bouzkova 6-4 4-2.
Now then. Jodar leaves the court between sets, returns, and is broken. we’ll see how he responds, but Coach Calv is high on him: “He’s class. Huge hitter. Very composed for his age. He could go very deep here.”
The composure is very apparent – he backs himself, and not in a foolish, youthful way, but because he trusts himself.
On Lenglen, it’s going as we thought it might, Teichmann’s streak expiring as Muchova improves to trail 1-6 2-0; Andreeva leads Bouzkova 6-4 2-0.
My 12-year-old disturbs me to talk the salad dressing she’s just made – yes, I have disowned her – and Michelsen makes 6-4, but a big serve from Jodar amps up the pressure at 6-5. And brutal hitting from the Spaniard opens the opportunity to finish the rally with a mid-court forehand … but he nets! Real talk, I don’t think losing this set will affect the outcome, because Michelsen needs that kind of error to win and I doubt he gets enough of them, but for now, he’s saluting his box having levelled the match at a set apiece.
Andreeva breaks Bouzkova immediately at the start of set two, and she’s on the surge now; part of her development has been taking control of matches when she’s in the ascendancy – the ability to up it when necessary – and that’s what we’re seeing here. Elsewhere, Muchova is made to fight for it, but she holds at the start of set two to trail Teichmann 1-6 1-0, while Michelsen has the mini-break against Jodar, up 4-3.
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Michelsen is a gamer, making 30-all, then, when Jodar goes for his big second serve again, this time he misses … and a second double, the second serve of which is butchered, the ball never threatening to bounce in the box, means we’re back on serve with a second breaker upon us.
Yeah, Rafael Jodar is forrreal. Michelsen facilitates him with a pair of unforced errors but then, up 30-40, he races way out of court on the backhand side and smites a winner down the line and at the ankles to secure a break. He’ll now serve for the second set and a 2-0 lead at 7-6 6-5.
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Pablo Carreño Busta beats Thiago Agustín Tirante 7-6(0) 7-5 3-6 6-4
Next for him: Jodar or Michelsen.
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Teichmann serves out what is surely one of the best sets (of tennis) she’s ever played, leading Muchova 6-1; Andreeva does likewise, up 6-4 on Bouzkova.
Gosh, there’s been a bit of doubles upheaval:
Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez tripped over an advertising sign and crashed into a wall while chasing the ball in her doubles match at the French Open on Friday, with the leg injury she sustained bringing her campaign to an early end.
Sonmez, who was partnering German Tatjana Maria in their second round match against Ukrainian duo Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska, ran towards the back of Court Six as she chased a high ball at 2-0 down in the opening set.
The 24-year-old looked to have given up her chase as the ball bounced over her head but she tripped on a small sign that served as an advertisement for a sponsor and fell face first towards the wall.
Although Sonmez reacted quickly to avoid a more serious injury to her head and face, she stayed down and clutched her bruised right leg, as her teammate and opponents ran to her.
After returning to her seat at the centre of the court and following a check by the tournament doctor, Sonmez pulled out and the contest came to an abrupt end after 17 minutes.
I love Andreeva’s inside-out forehand, a helluva thump, and she leaps into one to break Bouzkova for 5-4 in the first; she’ll now serve for the set. Meanwhile, Muchova is on the board but still down 5-1 to Teichmann, and Jodar leads Michelsen 7-5 4-5 on erve. v.
A second-serve ace saves Jodar from being broken, bravery and creativity under pressure another big tick next to his name; he leads 7-6 4-4; Teichmann now leads Muchova 5-0; and Carreno Busta is serving for the match against Tirente.
Teichmann has come out firing – she breaks Muchova again for 4-0 in the first and it’s not that her opponent is playing poorly, she’s just roasting hot. I doubt she can maintain that level through another set, but if she can, she’ll be hard to stop.
On Mathieu, Jodar, at net on the sideline but facing the baseline, somehow diverts a shoulder-high volley cross-court; it’s so good, Michelsen applauds. For now, though, he’s just about staying in the contest, down 6-7 3-3, but struggling to hold.
On Chatrier, Andreeva and Bouzkova are level at 3-3, but Andreeva is starting to play, a tremendous backhand taking her to deuce on return, and though she nets in the next point, prior to it she was dictating. And it’s that increased aggression which will give her a chance of winning majors – her defensive work is supreme, but without a big weapon, she needs to find other ways of finishing points, and conviction might just be the way.
What I really like about Muchova is the intelligence of her play – she has power, but varies spin, speed and angles better than almost everyone. Of course, as I type, she’s broken for 0-2; let’s see how she handles that.
We’re under way on Lenglen, where Teichmann has taken the first game against Muchova. Muchova is a brilliant player whose career has been hampered by injuries, but her grand slam record tells us just how good she is – she’s made the final of this competition, losing to Swiatek in three tight sets, the semis of the two hard-court majors, and the last eight at Wimbledon. It’s been a couple of years since the most recent of all those, but she lost a three-setter to Gauff in Melbourne, won in Qatar, lost to Gauff in the Miami semi, beat Gauff in Stuttgart – and Svitolina – then lost the final to Rybakina. She might just be ready for this.
Michelsen responds really well when down break point, but the feeling persists that the match is on Jodar’s racket: he’s got bigger power, but also a terrific understanding of what a rally requires. He leads 7-6 0-1.
It’s getting close on 14, Tirante retrieving a set to trail Carreno Busta 6-7 5-7 6-3 2-12, while on Chatrier we’re on serve, Bouzkova leading Andreeva 2-1.
Back with the dubs, longtime readers will know that Calv Betton, a great friend of the blog and whose insights are the best bit of it, coaches Henry Patten. He and Harri Heliovaara are currently on court against Mattia Bellucci and Fábián Marozsán; they lead 5-1 in the first set.
On Mathieu, they’re playing a breaker and, from 0-2 down, Jodar rips through seven points on the spin to lead Michelsen 7-6. He’s looking very good indeed, his ability to change tempo and intensity a rare one; he’s seeded to meet Zverev in the last eight and though there’s plenty of work for both to do before then, it’d be a tremendous tussle.
Next on Lenglen: Jil Teichmann v Karolína Muchová.
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I really like Rublev – he seems like such a good lad and I’m told he is. What he said about charisma is really interesting, because a s a bloke, he has it, but competitively, he doesn’t quite have the belief in himself, which is a major reasons he struggles against the best in the biggest tournament. Juvenile though this sounds, if he can introduce a bit of swagger to proceedings, he’ll be a much better player.
Rublev says he played a tough player who is dangerous and has good shots; he thinks they played good rallies at good speed, and he’s happy to have won.
“How do you manage to stay calm?” Fabrice Santoro wonders; “I’m not a good person to ask,” Rublev responds. “So what’s going on in your head?” comes back at him; “You know, Looney Tunes, the Tasmanian Devil? The one that’s crazy” is the answer.
Working with Marat Safin, now coaching him, is something unique and special, he’s grateful and it’s been amazing to work with him. The thing Safin is trying to bring to his game is “charisma” but also to see the court, how to move the opponent and when to step in, not just hitting the ball.
Andrey Rublev (11) beats Nuno Borges 7-5 7-6(2) 7-6(2)
An excellent performance from Rublev, who served well when he needs to and found winners when he needed them. Next for him comes Mensik or De Minaur, and like every man left in the draw, he’ll be wondering if this might be his time.
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And that might be that, a backhand swatted cross as Borges chugs from corner to corner makes it 5-2 Rublev, a booming ace out wide follows, and he now has four match points.
Borges secures his hold, so here comes our second breaker in a row, and he’s immediately down a mini-break, Rublev dashing in to whip a winner down the line by way of consolidation.
Visiting on Lenglen, Borges is serving to stay in the match at 5-7 6-7 5-6 while, on Mathieu, Jodar and Michelsen have swapped breaks once more, the Spaniard just holding to lead 5-4.
I really don’t have a clue what’s going to happen in week two of the women’s competition. Five to ten years ago, it was the least predictable sport in the world because no one was all that good so anyone could win any tournament; now, it’s the least predictable sport in the world because so many players are so damn brilliant.
Next on Chatrier: Mirra Andreeva (8) v Marie Bouzkova (27).
Swiatek says sometimes you have to be patient as it’s easy to go for a winner and miss, so her forehand top-spin did a lot today, and she’s also happy with her second serve and general solidity.
Asked about spending time training with Rafael Nadal, she says it was an amazing experience. She didn’t think he’d have time to come to her practises and he gave her some technical tiops, but the main thing to take from him is his approach to the game – it’s not always easy, sometimes the best players struggle, the key is to get over it, work on stuff, and never give up. He had some stories to share and is really open to giving advice, which she really appreciates.
This was the first time two Polish players have met at Roland Garros in the open eara – she hoes to see the fans again in the next days.
Iga Swiatek (3) beats Magda Linette 6-4 6-4
Swiatek is so good at improving through the rounds, and that was the best she’s played this week. But her next match, against Kostyuk, will offer a very different challenge – an elite athlete, with big power, and lots of confidence. I can’t wait.
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And very quickly, it’s 6-4 5-4 40-0…
On more than a few occasions, Linette has done the hard work then missed with her winner, and a forehand swiped down the line but wide, means that at 30-all, she’s two points away from defeat. But she then plays a really good rally for 40-30, then Swiatek goes long on the backhand, meaning she must serve for the match after change of ends.
Of course, as I type, Jodar serves three doubles in the process of surrendering his break, so he now leads 3-2 while, on Lenglen, Borges has the umpire down so he can chunter about a ball he thinks is out and on Chatrier, Linette is serving at 4-6 3-5 to stay in the mach.
Jodar breaks Michelsen for 3-1, and there’s a really good composure about him – he knows he’s meant to be here. Unlike the lads who try taking four of the 11 spare seats in his box – his old fella hoofs them out in short order, but biggup for trying.
Carreno Busta now leads Tirante 7-6 7-5; Rublev leads Borges 2-0 3-2; Linette retrieves one break to trail Swiatek 4-6 3-4.
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Linette made it close for a bit, but Swiatek breaks her again to lead 6-4 4-1, and this is almost over. I can’t wait to see her match with Kostyuk, though, because she’ll need all her copious wiles to handle the power and point-construction that awaits her.
On Mathieu, Jodar and Michelsen are ready to go, telly showing us that the former only has one man in his box. I guess he’s only 19 and his mates are busy – his rise has been remarkable. At the start of the year, he was ranked 168, but a win in Marrakesh, followed by a semi in Barca and quarter in Madrid, means he came to Paris seeded in only his second slam.
And if that isn’t enough, Jannik Sinner, who beat him in Madrid, is a fan:
“He’s already a very solid player, and I think he has shown why. He’s playing very, very high-quality tennis. Everyone is improving, you know, so you need always to be in the present moment. That’s also one of the reasons why I went to watch him, you know, him and Joao Fonseca. I like to watch because I know that they are going to be potentially the future opponents most of the time.”
Borges has netted a lot today, especially on backhand, and that’s exactly what he does when up break point in the opening game of set three; from there, Rublev closes out the game to lead 7-5 7-6 1-0. On Chatrier, meanwhile, Swiatek leads Linette 6-4 3-1.
In the men’s dubs, Julian Cash & Lloyd Glasspool, the Wimbledon champs, have been knocked out by the Czech pair, Pavlasek and Rikl; Carreno Bustas leads Tirante 7-6 5-5; and Swiatek leads Linette 6-4 2-1 with a break.
Xiy Wang beats Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3 7-5
The qualifier beats the conqueror of the no 2 seed. Next for her: Sierra or Cirstea.
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Back with Rublev, as we suspected, Boeges just isn’t quite good enough to stick with him. He breezes through a 7-2 breaker to lead 7-5 7-6, and I can’t see how he loses from here.
Kostyuk, into the last 1 for the first time since 2021, says it means a lot. She’s had really bad results in Paris and her opponents this year were really tricky, “So I couldn’t rush, I had to create the points, not something I love to do.”
Next, she thanks the crowd for their support in al her matches so far then, asked abot the 15-minute game which secured the first set, she says she started well then began rushing, losing her advantage, but she felt like she was the better player and having lost a set last round from 5-4 0-40 that extended her time on court, she really wanted to get it done. She didn’t feel the heat so much but it’s incredibly humid today and she woke up today not feeling good, the heat taking its toll on everyone, but she knows from Sunday the weather changes.
Asked about her form on clay, she says she’s gone back to “Little Me”. She used to play well on clay, then she decided she had to to grow up and do things differently, but now she’s rediscovering the joy of creating the points, changing tempo and running around a lot, something she loves to do that isn’t difficult for her.
What a great, enlightening and refreshing interview that was. I think this blog has a new favourite to add to Maddison Keys and Karolína Muchová.
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Lovely behaviour from Rublev, who makes 40-0 then secures his breaker with a leaping, wrong-footing backhand smash, sending it down the line from on the line, rather than cross as anticipated. Can Borges find the quality to reach seven points first?
Next on Mathieu: Alex Michelsen v Rafael Jodar (27).
Talking of whom, though Linette played some really good stuff in set one, Swiatek has just served it out to lead 6-4. On Lenglen, an impressive hold for Borges means Rublev must now hold for a second-set breaker at 7-5 5-6.
Marta Kostyuk (15) beats Viktorija Golubic 6-4 6-3
An impressive win, sealed with a glorious flat backhand down the line, over a tricky opponent. Kostyuk, though, was too good, and should she meet Swiatek not Linette next, don’t be surprised if she wins.
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I’ve enjoyed Kostyuk’s demeanour so far this week – she has a big game, which necessarily means errors, but hasn’t got down on herself when things haven’t gone to plan and, as I type, she reaches 40-15 and two match points.
Golubic holds, forcing Kostyuk to serve for the match at 6-4 5-3; Swiatek breaks Linette and is now serving for the first set at 5-4.
Talking of whom, at 40-30, Kostyuk chucks in an underarm serve, secures the hold, and at 5-2 she’s a game away. When Michael Chang tried it, too exhausted to do anything else, I don’t think he anticipated its eventual emergence as a tactic.
Even now, it’s remarkable that he won the title. At the time, I wasn’t happy – Stefan Edberg, who he beat in the final, was my favourite because, I can now see, his calm and composure was the opposite of 10-year-old me. But looking back, how great that he got it done.
Down break point again, Rublev’s forehand gets him out of trouble, then a vicious top-spinner seizes advantage and an inside-out backhand secures the hold. As with Kostyuk, it’s clear the match is on his racket: he can hit a level of which his opponent cannot dream, and if he’s anywhere close to it, it doesn’t matter what happens on the other side of the net.
Out on 14, Carreno Busta has taken the first set against Tirante and now leads 3-0 in set two; Wang leads Starodubtseva 6-3 but trails 2-4 in the second; Kostyuk leads Golubic 6-4 4-1, looking good; and Linette has just broken Swiatek back for 3-3 in the first.
I very much enjoyed this:
It’s so interesting to hear Murray talk about practise – I remember Kevin Pietersen saying the same to me, first about cricket but also about golf. The mental capacity to enjoy doing the same things, over and over again, and to work out what to do to get better, is just as much a talent as being good at them.
In winning that long game to take the first set, Kostyuk might just’ve broken the back of this match; she now leads 2-0 in the second, and I’m already buzzing at the thought of a fourth-round encounter with Swiatek. Back on Lenglen, Rublev is back in business, breaking Borges to lead 7-5 2-3, and it feels like he’ll do whatever is asked of him to win this match; I don’t think Borges, crafty though he is, can hit consistently enough to beat him.
Now then. Swiatek is brilliant at coaxing herself through the rounds, but she’ll not be happy to be broken immediately, Linette leading 2-0 … er, make that 2-1, the advantage immediately confiscated. Meantime, Rublev has also been broken, the serving that settled set one forsaking him in two, and that, really is the difference; he hammers his racket into the clay, which is better than doing so into himself, and he leads 7-5 1-3.
Borges, who’ll feel unlucky to have lost the first set, breaks Rublev immediately for 5-7 2-0, while Linette holds in game one of her clash with Swiatek.
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Better work at the net from Kostyuk restores deuce as the game ticks towards 13 minutes, then she nails a return to raise her fourth set point … only to overhit backhand. If she loses this, I’d not be surprised to see her broken next up because the emotional dump of disappointment might well be distracting. But a backhand winner down the line gives her yet another opportunity to forge in front and this time, Golubic swats wide. Kostyuk, who won both Rouen and Madrid, so hasn’t lost for 13 matches, leads 6-4.
Golubic nets a mid-court forehand when up advantage while, elsewhere, Tirente leads Carreno Busta 6-5 – I’m turning that match off now to get on Swiatek v Linette – and Wang is up on Starodubtseva 6-3 1-0, with a break.
On Mathieu, Kostyuk leads Golubic 5-4 and, at deuce, a terrific return raises a second set point. And she’s well in the rally, until Golubic finds a lovely angle to attack the sideline, cleaning up with an overhead … but when she makes advantage, Kostyuk opens shoulders to annihilate a inside-out forehand cross-court, indulging herself by saluting the crowd … only to make a mess of her next volley, this time opting not to ask what anyone else thinks. She does, though, make advantage again, the power differential clear to see … only to drag a backhand wide when nicely placed; back to deuce we go while, on Lenglen, Rublev returns after disappearing between sets.
Borges dominates the first rally of the game only to tamely waft a volley long. He does, though, make 15-30 … but a really good, flat, squash-shotted forehand from Rublev restores parity and another netted backhand offers him set point, neither player able to sustain their best play. So we wind up at deuce, then an ace and a service winner, fired out wide from the advantage court – the hardest to hit – snatch the set, the emphatic nature of its climax out of keeping with what went before. But Rublev leads 7-5, and Borges will have to play seriously well if he maintains the same standard on first delivery.
A forehand return, coaxed down the line, gives Rublev 0-15 and a backhand of similar quality means that at 0-30, he’s in business. And though Borges levels, a netted backhand means he must face a break point … and another netted backhand donates the breakthrough. At 6-5, Rublev will shortly serve for a first set in which he’s been second-best.
Rublev raises two break points but Borges saves them well, allowing his impetuous opponent to overhit; he leads 5-4 in the first. Similarly, Golubic also burns a break point by going long, but already it’s clear that if Kostyuk plays well, she wins whatever her opponent does; the question is whether she can hit consistently enough, because she’s by far the more powerful and talented player. She holds for 4-3, while Rublev is struggling, Borges outmanoeuvring him around the court, but his serve gets him out of trouble at 0-30, to level at 5-5.
On Lenglen, Borges and Rublev are level at 4-4; Golubic has just been broken back to love by Kostyuk for 3-3, this the first time she’s lost this many games in a set at this tournament; Tirante, the fastest server in the world, leads Carreno Busta 3-2 on serve; and Starodubtseva, conqueror of Rybakina, leads Wang 3-2 with a break.
Preamble
Salut à tous et bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2026 – sixième jour!
Round three, not something that gets us going in theory, but in practice? Oh là là! For round three is when our seeds – or those who’ve vanquished seeds – meet, and we’ve got a frankly wild selection of those contests awaiting us today. Can we beat yesterday’s wildness? Perhaps not, but we’re going to try.
We open with Marta Kostyuk, a talent in the process of realisation but one that, in the past, might’ve been stymied by the wiles of a veteran such as Viktorija Golubic. Her run to the final in Madrid, though, suggests she’s beyond that now … but is she?
Also in action early is Andrey Rublev, whose second-round ruckus with Ugo Cabello was one of the matches of the week so far. He should have enough to get by Nuno Borges, but whether he’s enough to get by himself always remains to be seen.
On Chatrier, meanwhile, we’ve a Polish derby as Iga Swiatek, our four-time champion, faces Magda Linette, and from there, it’s madness all the way. Alex Michelsen’s match with Rafael Jodar offers us a taste of the future, while the fantastic Karolína Muchová, one of the best players yet to win a slam, takes her brand of power and creativity to Jil Teichmann, and Mirra Andreeva resumes her quest for a major with a tricky tussle against Marie Bouzkova.
Were that all, it’d be enough – but it’s not even close. Following on later, we’ve Alex de Minaur v Jakub Mensik, Karen Khachanov v Jesper de Jong, Elina Svitolina v Tamara Korpatsch, Casper Ruud v Tommy Paul, and the undoubted match of the day: João Fonseca, a superstar in the making, versus Novak Djokovic, whose evil genius has somehow removed the two players standing between him and an impossible, possible, 25th grand slam title.
Chauette! On y va!
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