Joao Fonseca recorded his best Grand Slam result to date at this year’s French Open.
Fonseca reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros 2026, picking up a number of big victories en route.
The Brazilian defeated Novak Djokovic in the third round, coming back from two sets down in his maiden clash with the Serb to triumph.
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He then battled past two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud, beating the Norwegian in four sets on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Fonseca has been tipped as the next big star in tennis for quite some time now, and tennis legend Andre Agassi thinks he really matched the hype in Paris.
Andre Agassi reacts to Joao Fonseca’s French Open run
Speaking on TNT Sports, Agassi said: “I mean, watching him play Novak, I think he’s grown up.
“I mean, he’s 19 years old, you know, but he’s grown into a young man already.
“I think a big match for Joao was that Prizmic match. Second round. He wasn’t playing well, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Joao from not playing well to, like, figuring out a way on how to just settle in, maybe win ugly, right? And he got through that.
“Normally, he goes out there and either plays well and dominates, or he doesn’t kind of find his game, he’s overcooking balls, but he got through that from two sets down, and I felt like he kind of started the problem solve.
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“And then to watch him out there against Novak, he’s never outmatched by any stage, which you’ve got to love.
“And I think Jodar’s been a big, you know, kick in the butt for him. Whether it’s appearing, taking some of the pressure off, whether it’s inspiring him to believe he can do maybe something more, or, you know, whether it’s just straight fear that, oh, no, I might be losing my way.
“Whatever it’s done, I think those two guys will count on each other and need each other moving forward.”
Joao Fonseca’s campaign at the 2026 French Open
Fonseca kicked off his French Open campaign with a convincing straight-sets win over home hope Luka Pavlovic in round one.
But in the second round, it looked as though Fonseca was on his way out when down two sets to Dino Prizmic.
However, Fonseca dug deep and dominated in the last three sets versus Prizmic to win the match, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
He then secured another comeback win over Djokovic, before overcoming Ruud to reach a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Fonseca was ultimately beaten by Jakub Mensik in the last eight, with the Czech star coming out on top in straight sets.
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