French Open 2026 produced another major shock when Novak Djokovic was knocked out in Paris in dramatic fashion. Teenager Joao Fonseca stunned Djokovic in a marathon five-set battle on Friday. Earlier on Thursday, Sinner’s title hopes were dashed after he struggled physically in the sweltering heat.Fonseca, the 19-year-old Brazilian sensation, recorded the biggest win of his career by defeating Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 on court after nearly five hours. The young star came back from two sets down for the second straight match to end Djokovic’s latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.Despite facing one of tennis’ greatest players, Fonseca kept her composure and gradually took control as the match progressed. The victory sent him into the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
In the heat of Paris the sinner fell.
On Thursday, world No. 1 Janic Sinner also suffered a shock defeat to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo despite leading by two sets. Sunner looked in complete control at the start of the match and was just one game away from victory before things suddenly changed in the sweltering Paris heat.The temperature touched 32 degrees Celsius, and the culprit began to struggle physically in court. He looked tired, bent over between points and even needed medical attention after feeling dizzy and nauseous.After returning to the court with an ice pack around his neck, the Italian never recovered. Cerundolo sensed the opportunity and dominated the rest of the match, winning 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6.The loss ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak and marked his first Grand Slam exit since the 2023 French Open. The loss also raised fresh questions about its ability to cope with extreme heat conditions.With both Djokovic and Sinner now out of the tournament, the men’s draw has suddenly opened up, creating a huge opportunity for the remaining contenders in Paris.
