French Open 2026 delivered another massive shock as Novak Djokovic was knocked out in dramatic fashion in Paris. Teenager Joao Fonseca stunned Djokovic in a marathon five-set battle on Friday. Earlier on Thursday, Sinner’s title hopes collapsed after he struggled physically in extreme heat conditions.Brazil’s 19-year-old sensation Fonseca produced the biggest win of his career by defeating Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 after nearly five hours on court. The young star came back from two sets down for the second match in a row and ended Djokovic’s latest attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam title.Fonseca kept his composure despite facing one of tennis’ greatest players 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.
Sinner collapses in Paris heat
On Thursday, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner also suffered a shocking exit after losing to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo despite leading by two sets. Sinner looked completely in control early in the match and was just one game away from victory before things suddenly changed under the scorching Paris heat.Temperatures touched 32 degrees Celsius, and Sinner began struggling physically on court. He appeared exhausted, bent over between points and even needed medical attention after feeling dizzy and nauseous.After returning to court with ice packs around his neck, the Italian could not recover. Cerundolo sensed the opportunity and dominated the rest of the match, winning 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6.The defeat ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak and marked his earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2023 French Open. The loss also raised fresh questions about his ability to cope in 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.
