Zverev rises as Djokovic exits French Open early
Novak Djokovic’s French Open campaign ended in a stunning third-round defeat to 19-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca, marking the first time in a decade the 24-time Grand Slam champion has failed to reach the second week at Roland Garros. The 39-year-old Serb, who had never lost to a teenager in a major before, fell 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) on Friday night in a match that lasted nearly four hours, as reported by *The Guardian* .
Djokovic, who had won the tournament three times in the past five years, praised Fonseca’s composure and shot-making but left his future at the event uncertain. "I don’t know," he said when asked about returning to Paris. "This is a young man’s game now" . His exit guarantees a first-time men’s singles champion at this year’s French Open, with the final set for June 7.
With Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz (withdrawn due to injury), and Jannik Sinner (eliminated earlier) out of the draw, Alexander Zverev has emerged as the unexpected frontrunner. The 26-year-old German, seeded third, reached the quarterfinals after a late-night victory over France’s Geoffrey Halys, winning 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 at 0:49 AM local time . Zverev, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, now faces Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong in the last eight after de Jong’s five-set upset of 13th seed Karen Khachanov .
Zverev, who has never won a major, acknowledged the weight of expectation but downplayed his status as favorite. "I don’t feel like the favorite," he said. "I just want to keep playing my best tennis" . His path to the final could include a semifinal against either Fonseca or another rising star, with the draw now wide open for a breakthrough champion.
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Articles
French Open im Tennis: Karriereende naht: Djokovic verliert gegen Tennis-Zukunft
die zeit · 8 days ago
De Jong shocks French Open, defeating Khachanov; To take on Zverev in quarterfinal Dutch tennis player Jesper de Jong defeated 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia in a more than four-hour, five-set match at the French Open in Paris on Friday.
nltimes.nl · 8 days ago
French Open 2026: Osaka, Sabalenka and Gauff in action on day seven – live Updates from Saturdays play at Roland Garros Fonseca fightback stuns Djokovic | Mail KatyBonjour et bienvenue au jour sept de notre couverture de Roland Garros 2026!After Novak Djokovics departure in the match of the tournament against the 19-year-old Brazilian sensation João Fonseca last night, opportunity knocks louder than ever before for the remaining men, with a first-time grand slam champion guaranteed next Sunday. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
"Sexistische Äußerung": Paraguayer Vallejo in Paris bestraft Nach seinem Aus in fünf Stunden hat der Tennisprofi gesagt: "So ein Match muss von einem Mann geleitet werden"
der standard · 8 days ago
Nach Niederlage: Djokovic lobt Fonseca und lässt Rückkehr nach Paris offen 39-jährige Serbe musste sich dem Teenager aus Brasilien in der dritten Runde geschlagen geben. Djokovic über mögliche Rückkehr zu den French Open: "Ich weiß es nicht"
der standard · 8 days ago
Tennis | Novak Djokovic koki nöyryyttävän tappion Ranskan avoimissa João Fonseca, 19, viritteli ison yllätyksen.
helsingin sanomat · 8 days ago
French Open: Zverev wird zum Favoriten Sinner raus, Djokovic raus, Alcaraz gar nicht da – der Weltranglistendritte Alexander Zverev ist in der zweiten Turnierwoche der French Open so etwas wie der unfreiwillige Topfavorit. Der Weg zum ersten Grand-Slam-Titel scheint so frei wie nie.
faz · 8 days ago
Laffiche du jour à Roland-Garros : entre Naomi Osaka et Iva Jovic, un choc mondialisé Chaque jour pendant le Grand Chelem, les envoyés spéciaux de «Libération» sélectionnent une rencontre à ne pas manquer. Subjectivité assumée. Ce samedi 30 mai, duel entre une super star et une étoile montante du tennis.
liberation · 8 days ago
Djokovics French Open future uncertain after stunning loss to Fonseca reut.rs/3RTa3ui
bluesky bot · 8 days ago
Tennis: Zverev steht bei French Open im Achtelfinale Alexander Zverev hat nach einem Sieg über den Franzosen Halys in Paris das Achtelfinale erreicht. Nach Novak Djokovics Ausscheiden ist er der große Favorit auf den Titel.
die zeit · 8 days ago
French Open im Tennis: Plötzlich Topfavorit: Nachtarbeiter Zverev ohne Titelansage
die zeit · 8 days ago
Teen sensation Fonseca comes of age by taming Djokovic at French Open reut.rs/4vbHC9k
bluesky bot · 8 days ago
Roland-Garros 2026 : Novak Djokovic éliminé, renversé en cinq sets par le prodige brésilien Joao Fonseca Le vétéran serbe a fini par céder face à la fougue de son adversaire de 19 ans ce vendredi 29 mai au soir, au 3e tour du tournoi de tennis parisien.
liberation · 8 days ago
Spektakel op Roland Garros: Jesper de Jong wint en bereikt vierde ronde, exit Novak Djokovic
de volkskrant · 8 days ago
French Open: 19-Jähriger wirft Novak Djokovic aus dem Turnier Nach dem Aus von Jannik Sinner scheitert auch Novak Djokovic früh bei den French Open. Der 39-jährige Serbe gab gegen João Fonseca eine 2:0-Satzführung aus der Hand.
die zeit · 8 days ago
Teenage prodigy João Fonseca beats old master Novak Djokovic in five-set epic at French Open Djokovic had stormed into 2-0 lead on Philippe-ChatrierBrazilian 19-year-old wins 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5As Novak Djokovic limped back to his chair four hours into a tennis match that had descended into hell, the 24-times grand slam winner did not have much more to give. A two-set lead had unravelled and his 39-year-old body had hit a wall against a shining opponent 20 years his junior. Having reached the umpires chair, Djokovic vomited into the red dust.Still, nobody has mastered the art of finding victory from a miserable position quite like Djokovic, so everybody inside Court Philippe-Chatrier knew he could conjure a path through. It took the most courageous, headstrong performance from Joao Fonseca to refuse his legendary opponent a way back. The 19-year-old Brazilian held on for a career-defining victory, closing out an astounding 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 win after 4hr 53min. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
French Open: Junger Brasilianer wirft Novak Djokovic aus dem Turnier Nach dem Aus von Jannik Sinner scheitert auch Novak Djokovic früh bei den French Open. Der 39-jährige Serbe gab eine 2:0-Satzführung aus der Hand.
die zeit · 8 days ago
Another shock at the French Open as Novak Djokovic is knocked out by Brazilian teen There will be a first-time mens Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros.
thejournal · 8 days ago
Tennis in Paris: Auch Djokovic scheitert schon früh bei den French Open Zwei Sätze hat Novak Djokovic gegen den jungen Brasilianer João Fonseca alles im Griff. Doch dann kommt es zur dramatischen Wendung. Und Stress mit einem Kameramann hat der Serbe auch noch.
faz · 8 days ago
Djokovic knocked out in French Open third round by Brazils Fonseca
france24 · 8 days ago
French Open 2026: Fonseca fightback stuns Djokovic, Rublev and Swiatek win – live Updates from the sixth days play at Roland Garros How players are feeling the heat | Mail NiallNow then. Swiatek is brilliant at coaxing herself through the rounds, but shell not be happy to be broken immediately, Linette leading 2-0 … er, make that 2-1, the advantage immediately confiscated. Meantime, Rublev has also been broken, the serving that settled set one forsaking him in two, and that, really is the difference; he hammers his racket into the clay, which is better than doing so into himself, and he leads 7-5 1-3.Borges, wholl feel unlucky to have lost the first set, breaks Rublev immediately for 5-7 2-0, while Linette holds in game one of her clash with Swiatek. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago