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PARIS — There’s good news for anyone missing the presence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the men’s draw at this wacky French Open. His name is João Fonseca.
For those who either missed the four-hour-and-53-minute piece of art, in which Fonseca rallied from two sets down to upset Novak Djokovic, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, in the third round at Roland Garros — or for anyone looking for a cheat sheet on why they should be excited about this 19-year-old Brazilian whose matches draws some of the biggest crowds on the ATP Tour — watch the 5-5 game in the fifth set.
Fonseca became known almost instantly upon his breakthrough on tour for his sledgehammer forehand. His walloping power on that wing is the aspect that most often gets compared to Sinner, who hits the hardest forehand in the game most consistently. It’s also the aspect that can overwhelm Fonseca as much as his opponents, prone to overhitting or using brute force over precision in tight moments.
But in that 5-5 game Friday night on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Fonseca proved that he can also produce the deft feel that people associate with Alcaraz — in his biggest match, on his biggest stage, at the most clutch time possible. Djokovic, who was 301-1 in matches with a two-set lead, is a master of a five-set match’s dying embers. He knows what happens when tennis’ witching hour arrives more than anyone.
Fonseca was undeterred.
He used elite defense, with a nice dose of showmanship, to win the first three points of the game. First, he dug out a backhand, then took off diagonally to cover the short ball he anticipated from Djokovic, getting there with plenty of time to whip a forehand passing shot behind the Serb. He unleashed his cherubic smile and asked the feverish crowd for more after that one — as if they needed prodding.
The first “I can’t believe he did that” sharp intake of breath of the game came the point after, at 0-15. Djokovic sent a backhand slice at a short, sharp angle that Fonseca chased down from feet behind the baseline. He sent back a drop shot that just floated over the net at an acute angle and plopped onto the clay like a feather:
Fonseca was feeling himself after that. Moving into a position where he would usually send a two-handed backhand skidding through the court, he leant forward over his left shoulder and carved the ball short in the court:
Djokovic served well to win two quick points, and the next test of Fonseca’s newfound clarity arrived. Being pulled back from 0-40 to deuce would have represented a significant shift in momentum. Djokovic and Fonseca had traded holds from 3-2 to 5-5, with opportunities to grab a decisive break and shotmaking of the highest quality. There was every risk that Djokovic would find another step.
Instead, Fonseca went three-for-three. From behind the baseline, nonchalant as can be, he flicked another drop shot over the net and out of Djokovic’s reach:
The crowd rose to him. He was on his way.
