PARIS, May 31 – Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca advanced to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal Sunday night, defeating 15th seed Casper Ruud 7-5 7-6(8) 5-7 6-2 at the French Open in Paris.
The 19-year-old’s remarkable tournament run gained momentum after he overcame a two-set deficit to eliminate Novak Djokovic in the third round, establishing himself as a legitimate threat in this unpredictable championship. His triumph over the two-time French Open finalist demonstrated his increasing poise and self-assurance on tennis’s grandest stage.
“It was tough, Casper plays good here, I mean he’s a very experienced guy and he knows how to play here in this amazing court,” Fonseca said in his on-court interview.
“It was tough in the beginning but I played really well in the important moments in the first and second sets. I was very happy because of that.
“I just try to be me on court, try to be happy, try to hit winners, try to hit good shots and bring entertainment.”
Competing once again on Court Philippe Chatrier, Fonseca dazzled under the evening lights with brilliant shot-making from both sides of the court, securing a crucial break in the 12th game to claim the opening set amid thunderous crowd support.
Following early service breaks in the second set, both players engaged in a grueling battle of powerful groundstrokes. The Norwegian failed to convert three opportunities to level the match, allowing his teenage opponent to prevail in a thrilling tiebreaker.
The victory brought smiles from Brazilian three-time Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten watching in the stands as the excited crowd erupted, though Ruud responded by capturing the third set to push the entertaining match past midnight.
“He’s an idol for our sport and country, for his charisma and how humble he is,” Fonseca said of Kuerten.
“He was here for my first time at Roland Garros when I was a junior. It is a pleasure to have him here and a pleasure to beat a tough opponent in front of him.”
The young Brazilian elevated his performance in the fourth set, earning two service breaks as the crowd’s energy reached football-like intensity. The world number 30 then completed another memorable triumph, securing a quarterfinal matchup against Czech Jakub Mensik.
