Joao Fonseca pulled off a dramatic turnaround at Roland Garros on Wednesday, rallying from two sets down to defeat Dino Prizmic 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 and reach the third round. The 19-year-old Brazilian will face Novak Djokovic next in their first career meeting, with the 24-time major winner also advancing earlier in the day.
Fonseca’s Impressive Comeback
Fonseca created no break points in the opening two sets against the in-form 20-year-old Prizmic, who recently beat Djokovic in Rome. From there, the Brazilian’s forehand clicked into gear: he converted six of seven break chances over the final three sets and closed out the match in three hours and 27 minutes with a forehand winner.
Seeded 28th, Fonseca is into the Roland Garros third round for the second straight year, becoming the first Brazilian man to do so since Thomaz Bellucci in 2010 and 2011. The 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals champion had lost his only previous five-set match at last year’s Australian Open to Lorenzo Sonego, but he held firm this time. He acknowledged a shaky start, credited a steadier mindset for the comeback, and said he is eager to embrace the challenge of facing Djokovic.
Djokovic, who was pushed by Frenchman Valentin Royer, came through his own four-set test to set up the showdown with Fonseca. This upcoming match promises to be an exciting encounter as both players are in great form.
In other action, second seed Alexander Zverev, the 2024 Roland Garros finalist, eased past an injury-hampered Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 48 minutes. The victory sent Zverev into the third round of the clay-court major for the 10th time and marked his 550th tour-level win. He became the first man born since 1990 to reach that milestone and the third German in the Open Era to do so, joining Boris Becker (713) and Tommy Haas (569).
As the tournament progresses, tennis fans are eager to see how Fonseca performs against Djokovic and whether Zverev can continue his winning streak. With thrilling matches ahead, Roland Garros is shaping up to be an unforgettable event.