Fonseca, 19, Shows Title Credentials by Backing Up Djokovic Win at French Open
Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca underlined his credentials as a genuine Grand Slam contender on Monday, grinding out a four-set victory over two-time finalist Casper Ruud to reach the French Open quarter-finals and prove his stunning third-round win over Novak Djokovic was no aberration.
The 19-year-old, who had fought back from two sets down in each of his previous two matches, overpowered the 15th seed 7-5, 7-6 (10-8), 5-7, 6-2 in a bruising contest at Roland Garros. It was a performance that combined raw power with remarkable composure on the sport’s biggest stage.
Fonseca’s victory capped an extraordinary day in Paris in which the next generation of men’s tennis announced its arrival with authority. His fellow 19-year-old Rafael Jodar and Czech Jakub Mensik, aged 20, also reached the quarter-finals of a major for the first time, signalling a generational shift that has been anticipated for years.
I just try to be me on court — try to be happy, try to hit winners, try to hit good shots, and bring entertainment, Fonseca said on court after his win. It’s a new experience for me. Getting through to the second week of a Grand Slam is always tough, but it’s all heart.
As in his previous match, Fonseca — playing in front of a beaming Gustavo Kuerten, the last Brazilian man to win a Grand Slam singles title — leaned heavily on his booming forehand to dictate rallies. Twenty-one of his 28 groundstroke winners came off that wing, a weapon that Ruud simply could not neutralise.
The Brazilian also proved tenacious in defence, using his athleticism and court speed to extend rallies and force Ruud into an extra shot. While both players committed 52 unforced errors, Ruud hit 53 forced errors to Fonseca’s 41, a statistic that reflected the younger man’s ability to apply relentless pressure.
The decisive factor, however, was Fonseca’s nerve on the big points. He saved seven of the nine break points he faced and converted four of 13. In the second-set tie-break, he recovered from 5-2 down and saved three set points to seize a two-set lead — a passage of play that will linger long in the memory.
Equally composed after being broken in the 12th game of the third set, Fonseca won eight of the opening nine points in the fourth, breaking Ruud twice in the first five games to regain control of the match. Although there was no repeat of his three-ace finale against Djokovic, the Brazilian pulled out a rocket serve down the T to earn three match points, needing only one.
Fonseca will next face Mensik, who staged his own remarkable recovery from two sets down against 11th seed Andrey Rublev, breaking in the eighth game of the fifth set and saving two break points before closing out the win.
Meanwhile, world number three Alexander Zverev underlined his status as title favourite with a clinical straight-set victory over Jesper de Jong, reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the sixth consecutive year. With Jannik Sinner and Djokovic already eliminated and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz absent through injury, the German’s path to a maiden Grand Slam title has never been clearer.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
