Joao Fonseca hits back from two sets down to defeat 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in a five-set epic at the 2026 French Open

That's it for our LIVE updates from a thrilling Friday at the 2026 French Open.

We'll be back from 10:00 BST tomorrow for more thrills and spills from Roland-Garros.

The Brazilian starlet came from two sets down to end Novak Djokovic's latest bid for a stand-alone 25th Major title.

Check out our write-up below for the key details and reaction from the five-set thriller.

Asked how he thought he could win this match against Djokovic, he quipped: ”I actually didn’t. I just played, I just enjoyed being on court and what a pleasure it was. I mean, what an idol we have and it’s a pleasure just stepping on the court against him. And it’s my first time stepping on court against him, so just thanking him and just very happy."

He added: ”I was just trying to hit the ball as fast as I could, I mean Djokovic, he just doesn’t miss. We still think he’s 20, so… I mean, I think at the end of the match he was more fit than me, it’s crazy. I felt when the day was getting darker, it felt much slower and, for me, it was a bit better because I could use a bit more power for sure.

"In the beginning, I was still struggling a bit with the heat because I touched ball and it just goes, so I was not feeling very good. And then after, I felt better.”

On his three aces in a row to conclude the match: ”I just believed I could do aces. I felt like John Isner. It was crazy. I never did that before and I was super happy I could finish like this."

Incredible!

Teen sensation Joao Fonseca secures the biggest win of his fledgling career.

The 19-year Brazilian comes back from two sets down to defeat 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and end the Serb’s latest quest for a stand-alone 25th Major title in the sport.

Fonseca started slowly but began to unleash spectacularly on his ferocious forehand and after breaking in the 11th game of the decider, the 28th seed fired down three aces in a row to fight off break back point and clinch a famous victory in four hours and 53 minutes.

The crowd erupt as Fonseca chases down Nole’s dropper and finds an acute angle on the re-drop to press hard at 0-30.

The sense of anticipation grows as he almost knocks Djoker off his feet with a deep, probing backhand before deploying another devilish drop shot to snare triple break point.

The Serb survives one with a scooped pick-up from a low pass at the net and then fends off a second with a clever volley back in behind the Brazilian.

Joao gets into the rally on the third and follows up a forehand scorcher with another sublime dropper.

The teenager will now serve for the biggest win of his career!

Fonseca avoids a nervy moment at 30-15 as his drop-shot/lob combo does just enough to force a stretch overhead error from the Serb.

It’s a short-lived game from there as Joao pockets it for the loss of one point to level at five apiece.

Djokovic leans all over his first serve with Miles Maclagan highlighting how well he’s still hitting his spots on TNT Sports comms.

The Serb doesn’t do enough with a volley to allow Joao to make a missile-like forehand pass but seals the hold to 30 with a special backhand drive down the line.

Fonseca cruises through a hold to 15 to quickly level matters.

Fonseca is bullying Djokovic beyond his baseline right now.

The Brazilian booms down an overhead and then unloads on another inside-in forehand to delight the Samba fans in the crowd.

Nole responds with a wonderful, angled volley to pick off a forehand pass and then cannons down a clutch serve to reach Pulp (30-30).

Djokovic earns game point when Fonseca rushes a forehand into the net, but that same wing does all the damage for the Brazilian as he makes deuce with another rocket to conclude another world-class baseline exchange.

The three-time champion needs his serve to ignite and it duly does before the Serbinator turns defence into attack to repel the thunderbolts and punish a dropper with a backhand pass.

Fonseca unleashes a stonking inside-in forehand and another belting strike off that flank down the opposite line en route to a clean hold that consolidates the break and levels the decider!

‘Sorry, not sorry,’ is written across Fonseca’s expression as he pick-up from a redrop ends with a dead net cord in his favour.

Djokovic responds with a delicate touch on a clever serve and volley but then drags a backhand wide.

The Serb seems in control of the following rally but drills a tired-looking forehand into the net to offer up two break back points.

Fonseca seems to recognise that as he peppers Djokovic with a barrage of sizzling forehands, luring the error he was searching for to hit straight back!

Here comes Djokovic!

The Serb rips a crosscourt forehand winner and then shows great speed to pick off a volley with a pass down the line off that same wing.

The three-time champion injects searing pace into another deep strike to force an error long and all of sudden Joao is facing up to three break points.

The Brazilian can’t resist and Nole blocks off a desperate defensive pass with a clutch stun volley to break to love.

Fonseca zaps a forehand just long and it concludes a fairly routine hold to 15 for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

This very much feels like the calm before the storm at the start of this fifth set.

Djokovic mutters in disgust as he fails to keep a response to another thunderbolt forehand on the island.

The Serb then floats a dropper wide to conclude a love hold for Fonseca after the 28th seed had taken charge with a 1-2 punch and a sumptuous dropper that even had Novak applauding.

It’s all about the drop shot at the start of this decider with both players keen to see how fresh their opponent is getting up to the net.

Djoker comes out on top for the large part and is relieved to see another howitzer of a forehand fly just long to allow him to post a hold to 30.

Djokovic can only smile as a 100mph crosscourt forehand catches the line to take Fonseca to 15-15.

The Brazilian dumps a tame forehand into the net to trail 15-30 but thumps away a smash and follows it with a slick volley to earn set point.

There’s no late twist as Nole drifts a return long and we are going five on Chatrier!