'I'm a Roger Federer fan but...' - Joao Fonseca savours 'crazy' five-set win over GOAT Novak Djokovic in French Open third round

Djokovic, 39, started the match strongly and looked to have the upper hand as he took a two-set lead.

But 19-year-old Fonseca found another gear and rallied to win the third and fourth sets.

A gripping fifth set saw Djokovic break to lead 3-1, only for Fonseca to hit back and then win the last three games to seal a famous win.

”Crazy experience for me," Fonseca told TNT Sports.

"It was difficult to sleep last night. Just stepping on court was the first time hitting with him, we had never practised. 

”I was just trying to be grateful and play my best. After the second set I was not believing in my game and he was destroying me and when I won the third set I started believing a bit.

”Djokovic is for sure an idol for this sport. Him and Roger [Federer]. I am a Roger fan but I know Djokovic is the GOAT. I wish it could be Roger but that’s life.

”It was difficult to realise when I finished, did I really win? In the fifth set I wasn’t thinking at all, I just played.”

Asked how he managed to get back into the match after dropping the first two sets, Fonseca said in his press conference: ”Actually, I was not even believing myself. I mean, it was tough to play against him in the heat. He was destroying me.

”If I hit it hard, the ball was coming back harder. If I would go higher, he was just doing drop shots and going aggressive. I just stayed focusing on point by point, not focusing that I had three more sets to win. I was just thinking, ‘let's stay, let's stay’.

"I figured out he was a little bit more tired, and that gave me a little bit more hope. When I won the fourth set, I was already tired. The fifth set was all heart. I couldn't even think. I was just trying to go.

”I think when I won the third set, I started believing a little bit.”

Fonseca is the first teenager to ever beat Djokovic at a Grand Slam.

With Jannik Sinner losing 24 hours earlier, the result means there will be a guaranteed first-time major winner at the French Open.

Could Fonseca be in the conversation after his statement victory?

”For now, I'm just enjoying the moment,” he said.

”I think just 10 minutes after the match I could realise a little bit what I did, what I achieved, how difficult it was, and how amazing it was for me.

”I'm just in the fourth round. Of course, Jannik and Djokovic out, there's more chances for the guys that are more time on tour, like Sascha [Zverev], Casper [Ruud], or whatever. I'm just focusing match by match. 

”For me, it was a great achievement just being able to play my first time round of 16. I'm just going to enjoy the moment.”

The match was played during the day in hot conditions in Paris and Djokovic admitted afterwards that he "ran out of gas".

Fonseca said that he was given hope by seeing Djokovic tiring towards the end of the match.

”In the first two sets it was difficult for me. I was trying to do something, but nothing was going well. I mean, I was missing some opportunities that I had, missing some easy shots," Fonseca continued.

”I think in the third set I started putting a little bit more of deep returns and going more aggressive with margin, became a little bit more solid and conducting a little bit more the points, staying a little bit more aggressive with more consistency. 

”In the beginning, he was doing a lot of drop shots. Every time he was aggressive, he did drop shots, he was commanding the point pretty well, and for me it was difficult. I think that was the main point. 

”I think trying to be more aggressive in the returns and same in the serves.

”His return is unbelievable, so for me it was difficult to hold my serve. But I think I felt him a little bit more tired, and that gave me more hope to keep finding the solutions in the game.”

Fonseca plays two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud in the fourth round.

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