Novak Djokovic seemed poised for a record-breaking 25th major title following Jannik Sinner’s unexpected exit at Roland-Garros, the French Open. However, 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca had different plans. On May 29, 2026, Fonseca defeated Djokovic in a remarkable five-set comeback on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris.
After trailing behind by two sets, Fonseca turned the match around and bested the 24-time Grand Slam champion with scores of 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. This victory stands as one of the biggest upsets of the season, as Djokovic’s last early exit at Roland-Garros was in 2009. Before this loss, Djokovic held an impressive 301-1 record when leading two sets to none.
In another historic note, this was the first instance of Djokovic losing to a teenager in his career, previously having a record of 18-0 against younger competitors. At 39, Djokovic entered Roland-Garros with the goal of surpassing Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles but faced a symbolic challenge from the sport’s emerging generation.
With Djokovic, Sinner out, and Carlos Alcaraz injured, the French Open is set to crown a first-time Grand Slam champion on the men’s side for the first time in over two years. The dominance of the Big Three in men’s tennis—Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—has been challenged by a new wave led by players like Alcaraz and Sinner.
The last new Grand Slam champion was Jannik Sinner at the 2024 Australian Open, marking a potential turning point in the sport. While Djokovic still has potential to claim another Grand Slam, the rise of younger talents promises an exciting competition in the ongoing tournament from the fourth round onwards.
Alexander Zverev now stands as the consensus favorite among the remaining players, having been seen as the top clay-court contender even before the tournament’s start. His status was further solidified after Sinner’s and Djokovic’s eliminations. Despite this, Fonseca’s recent victory could be a game-changer, boosting his confidence for the matches ahead.