Joao Fonseca follows up an epic win over Novak Djokovic by defeating Casper Ruud in four sets to reach the quarter-finals at the 2026 French Open

”It was tough. Casper plays good here. He is a very experienced guy and he knows how to play here on this amazing court. He has two finals here, so it was tough, but I played really good in the important moments in the first and second set and I was very happy because of that."

He is asked about his shot selection and variety and says he just tries to be himself and entertain.

On the legendary Brazilian player Gustavo Kuerten watching in the stands, he adds: ”He’s an idol for our sport, for our country, for his charisma - the way that he is, how humble he is.

"He was here for my first match at Roland-Garros as a junior and it’s a pleasure to have him here. A pleasure to win against a very tough opponent in front of him, so I'm just very happy."

Two teenagers, a 20-year-old and the 'veteran' Zverev at 29 years of age!

Joao Fonseca books a spot in his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final courtesy of a four-set victory over two-time finalist Casper Ruud.

The Brazilian teenager follows up his epic five-set triumph over 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic by taking out the Norwegian after a hard-fought three-hour and 56-minute tussle on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The 19-year-old served out to love on his first match point and will now face 26th seed Jakub Mensik in the last eight.

Ruud avoids the breadstick as a scorching crosscourt forehand winner clinches a hold to 15, but it’s a long, long, LONG way back from here.

Fonseca will now serve for the match.

Fonseca gives himself work to do with a couple of loose forehands.

A thumping serve down the T helps him get a foothold in the game and he makes Pulp with a fizzing forehand that Ruud blocks just long.

The injection of pace off that forehand again reaps rewards to lure an error wide but Casper fights to deuce with a crushing forehand down the line.

The Brazilian guns an inside-in winner to regain the ascendancy and then wows the crowd with a drop-shot lob combo that ends with him popping a simple volley away.

Ruud looks to the heavens as he drags a make-able forehand into the net to feel pressure at Pulp (30-30).

The Norwegian can’t find the first serve but is relieved when Joao’s crosscourt backhand lands just wide.

The two-time runner-up double faults for a fourth time to extend the game to deuce and can only watch on as Joao explodes a Hollywood backhand down the line to snare break point.

The 15th seed can’t fend it off as he fizzes a forehand just wide to hand the teenager the insurance break.

This time it’s Fonseca’s turn to feel the heat as he dribbles a tame backhand into the net to trail 0-30.

A big first serve and a scorching backhand pass ignite his recovery and some incredible slice defence keeps him afloat to lure Casper into curving a forehand pass up the line wide.

The South American survives from there to maintain his break advantage.

Fonseca goes for the kill but can’t quite execute when it matters.

The Brazilian turns the screw at 15-30 but rifles a forehand just wide and then allows Casper to swat away a break point with an overhead backhand smash after playing a pick-up straight back to the Norwegian.

The 15th seed takes advantage of the let off from there as he does just enough with an angled volley before completing the rescue-act with an ace.

Fonseca unleashes off that lethal forehand wing and consolidates to love to put that late Set 3 dip way behind him.

Ruud can’t ride the wave of momentum into the start of Set 4.

The Norwegian’s forehand falters quite spectacularly and Joao seizes upon the opportunity as he drills a backhand winner down the line to break to 15 and give himself a major boost.

Fonseca feels the pressure as he thrashes a bounce smash long and follows it with two unforced errors off the forehand to hand over two set points.

The Brazilian survives one but makes a mess of a half volley into the net and Casper Ruud is back in business!

Fonseca zaps a stunning counter-punched crosscourt forehand and roars with delight.

It seems to unnerve Casper as he flashes a forehand off the island to allow a 30-0 lead to slip.

The Norwegian resets with a delicious drop volley and then guarantees himself the minimum of a breaker with a rocket inside-in forehand.

Fonseca unloads that powerhouse forehand to great effect once again as he avoids the hiccup from 40-0 up to post a hold to 30.

Joao bellows with delight as he survives an intense examination of his backhand when Casper flashes a forehand wide.

The Brazilian then sizzles a backhand just long at 30-15 down and jabs another one into the net to allow the Norwegian to apply the scoreboard pressure.

Fonseca booms a 15th winner off the forehand en route to a dominant hold to 15.

It's another close set - are we heading for another breaker?

It is the Czech's maiden quarter-final at a Major after also reaching the round of 16 at the Australian Open earlier this year.

This time Ruud avoids any significant drop-off from 40-0 up as he glosses over a double fault to cannon away an overhead and keep his nose in front heading into the business end of Set 3.