Joao Fonseca beat Novak Djokovic at the French Open to secure the biggest victory of his career – and he still remembered to wish his mother a happy birthday. He gave her the best present ever by coming from two-sets down to defeat the Serbian icon.
Fonseca, 19, became the second player to overcome Djokovic in a Grand Slam having trailed by two sets down, and the first since 2006 when Jurgen Melzer defeated the three-time French Open winner. The victory came one day after fellow South American Juan Manuel Cerundolo overcame Jannik Sinner having also trailed by two sets. Fonseca’s head may have been in a spin after his triumph, but he would not let himself forget to wish his mum a happy birthday.
The final question of his on-court interview had actually been asked, but Fonseca brought the interviewer back to send another message. It was then he said: “I need to thank my mum, happy birthday mum and thank you to all the Brazilian crowd.
He also started speaking to his fellow Brazilians present in the crowd in his native language, which earned many cheers and positive whistles from the crowd. Fonseca secured the victory with three blistering aces in a row to run out a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 winner.
Djokovic more than played his part in a pulsating match of tennis, but Fonseca found his best and most ruthless tennis at the key moment. He still had some kind words for the Serbian.
When asked if he believed he could beat Djokovic, he replied: “I actually didn’t. I just played, I just enjoyed being on the court. What a pleasure it was. What an idol we have and it was a pleasure to just step onto the court against him. It’s my first time stepping onto the court against him. I’m just thanking him and I am just very happy.”
After he was probed about the hot and fast conditions of the courts, he added: “I was not thinking about this. I was just trying to hit the ball as fast as I could. Djokovic, he just doesn’t miss, we still think he is 20.
“I mean, I think at the end of the match I think he was more fit than me. I felt when the day was getting darker, I felt much slower, which was better because I could use a bit more power for sure.
“At the beginning I was still struggling in the heat because the ball was…I touched the ball and the ball goes, so I was not feeling very good. After, I felt better.