2026 French Open LIVE - Latest updates from Roland-Garros as Novak Djokovic takes on rising star Joao Fonseca in blockbuster clash

SET! - DJOKOVIC 6-4 6-4 3-6 FONSECA

Djokovic gets the start he wants at 0-15 but can only smile wryly as the Brazilian catches him out with a bewitching dropper from deep.

Fonseca attempts a serve and volley but the return is a rocket and low to his feet, leading to a poor half volley that barely reaches the net.

Djokovic defends brilliantly to try and play on the youngster’s nerves but ends up thrashing a forehand into the net.

It’s a big, big point at Pulp but Joao can’t find the back edge of the baseline with a scorching forehand and Nole gets the break back point.

The Serbinator fancies the return on the second serve but drags it wide and Fonseca lets out a roar of delight when an ace down the T earns him set point.

The South American does it again, this time with a wide ace, and we are heading into a fourth!

DJOKOVIC 6-4 6-4 3-5 FONSECA

Djokovic zaps a trademark backhand down the line on his way to a 40-0 lead, but a miscue and a pair of blistering Fonseca forehands leave him needing to steady the ship at deuce.

The Serb does just that with an overhead putting him back in charge before a velvety lob clips the stretching Brazilian’s racquet frame and secures a hard-fought hold.

Over to Joao now to try and keep his nerve and force this into a fourth.

DJOKOVIC 6-4 6-4 0-3 FONSECA

”It’s got a different feel to it,” says Miles Maclagan on TNT Sports comms.

He’s not wrong with Fonseca dictating most rallies early in this third set, but there are danger signs as he overcooks a forehand to allow a 40-15 lead slip.

Indeed, there’s almost a bit of the commentator’s curse about it as the Brazilian steers a twisting backhand overhead into the net to cough up break back point.

The teenager can’t believe Djoker reaches his thunderbolt forehand and the Serb turns the rally around before inexplicably hammering a forehand into the net to hand his opponent the reprieve.

Fonseca then saves a second BP with a rocket of a body serve and there are a couple of magical exchanges before Joao revels in the roars of approval when he comes up trumps from a terrific cat and mouse exchange to consolidate via the scenic route.

BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 6-4 6-4 0-2 FONSECA

Djoker sets the pace with a pair of drive volleys but Joao pushes to Pulp (30-30) with a sublime forehand to the postage stamp.

The third seed earns game point by tip-toeing into a stretch volley at the net but is made to work further at deuce when he’s unlocked by a backhand return winner down the line.

Djokovic can’t engineer a simple escape route and Fonseca unleashes a thunderous backhand to notch up a break point.

This time the Brazilian makes it count with a sizzling crosscourt backhand forcing an error into the net.

SET! - DJOKOVIC 6-4 6-4 FONSECA

That is outstanding.

Djokovic seizes control of the game from 0-15 down with a delicate stun-volley and then turns defence into attack as he races forward to reach a dropper and zap a crosscourt backhand winner that tees up two set points.

The Serb clinches it on the first with a wrong-footing drive volley and it’s a long, long way back for Joao from here.

DJOKOVIC 6-4 5-3 FONSECA

Fonseca yells in dismay as a loose slice flies long and results in a 0-30 advantage evaporating.

The Brazilian does work his way to a break point but sees it wiped out by Nole’s high-reaching plus-one forehand.

Joao is then guilty of over-pressing with some serious heat on his forehand and Djokovic escapes to remain on course for a two-set lead.

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