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Fonseca stays grounded after French Open win over Djokovic / Photo: © AFP
Fonseca stays grounded after French Open win over Djokovic
Joao Fonseca insisted he would not get ahead of himself after coming of age with a stunning comeback victory over Novak Djokovic at the French Open on Friday.
The Brazilian 19-year-old wrecked Djokovic's bid for a record 25th Grand Slam in the third round as he stormed back to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in a five-hour classic.
Djokovic's defeat blew apart an already unexpectedly open draw, with Jannik Sinner losing in the second round and two-time defending Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury.
It is the first time in the Open era no former men's Grand Slam champion has reached the last 16 at a major.
Fonseca is reluctant to look too far ahead though after his landmark win, his first over a top-five player. He had never before advanced to the second week at a Grand Slam.
"That was my first fourth round in my career. I'm just thinking about my next match. For now, I'm just enjoying the moment," said Fonseca.
"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."
Fonseca's next opponent is Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open runner-up who saved two match point in his third-round match to beat Tommy Paul.
"Of course, (with) Jannik and Djokovic out, there's more chances for the guys that are more time on tour, like Sascha (Zverev), Casper, or whoever," said Fonseca.
"For me it was a great achievement just being able to play my first time round of 16."
Fonseca sealed victory in style with three straight aces as he erased a break point that would have forced a deciding tie-break.
He also battled back from 3-1 down in the fifth set, and, for second time in three days, escaped from a two-set hole.
His win over Croatia's Dino Prizmic in round two was the first time in his career he had come back from two sets down.
"I was not even believing myself," said Fonseca. "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."
L.Nguyen--SFF
