John McEnroe reacts to Novak Djokovic’s decision before surprise French Open exit - ‘You’re running a risk’

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Novak Djokovic made an unusual request ahead of his third-round loss to Joao Fonseca at the French Open, which may have cost him a shot at a record 25th Grand Slam with the tournament wide open.

Highlights: Fonseca fights back to shock Djokovic in five-set thriller

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The three-time Roland-Garros champion requested to play during the daytime session, rather than in the evening in cooler temperatures.

Djokovic wanted to avoid a late finish on Court Philippe-Chatrier to ensure a better night’s sleep, but instead braved the daytime sun as temperatures climbed as high as 31 degrees.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner John McEnroe remained puzzled by this decision as Djokovic battled against an opponent over half his age.

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”I'm still surprised with Novak [requesting a day-session match],” McEnroe told TNT Sports. "He said he didn't sleep well after the first-round match.

”I'm still surprised, he'd risk going out there in this heat. I know he's fitter and deals with it better than Sinner, but you're running a risk."

Djokovic’s chances for a record 25th Grand Slam title improved dramatically following Jannik Sinner’s shock exit the previous day.

Sinner led by two sets and two breaks against Juan Manuel Cerundolo before the heat got to him, and the world No. 1 became a passenger as the Argentine completed a remarkable turnaround.

However, the 39-year-old could not capitalise on the draw being blown wide open, squandering a two-set lead himself against Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.

‘Definitely the big favourite’ – can Zverev shake off Grand Slam hoodoo?

With Sinner and Djokovic both eliminated, there are now no Grand Slam winners remaining in the men’s draw.

Attention falls to No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, who reached the final at Roland-Garros in 2024, as the red-hot favourite to go all the way.

The German has seven Masters 1000 titles – four on clay – but has been defeated in all three Grand Slam finals he has reached, most agonisingly when he squandered match points against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final.

Watch top five shots from Fonseca v Djokovic five-set thriller

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However, McEnroe believes Zverev can learn from this hurt to hold off the pressure that comes with being the favourite.

He said: "I think the main question is how he's going to handle the pressure all of a sudden.

”First of all, he was the guy that was the best player never to win a major.

”That was getting in his head, so that was bugging him. But now he doesn't have to deal with Djokovic, Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz.

”So if he doesn't win it this time, I don't know whether he's ever going to win it. So there's more pressure there.

”He was up a break in the third set last night, and maybe you should have won that in three sets. But nonetheless, I think he's young enough to bounce back.

”He's been there and done that, so I don't believe that's going to affect him.”

Three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander agreed Zverev is the heavy favourite, but pointed out that there are several stumbling blocks in his half alone.

Should Zverev see off lucky loser Jesper de Jong in the next round, he could face teenage superstar Rafa Jodar in the quarters before potentially Fonseca or two-time Roland-Garros finalist Casper Ruud in the semi-finals.

Wilander said: ”I do think that he's good enough. If you put yourself there, you're going to have luck on your side.

”And the truth is that if Zverev had a bit of luck, he might have had a US Open title already, because he was up in that. He was up two sets to one here in the final against Alcaraz.

”I mean, once you're once set away, if you have some luck, you have a chance of winning. So I think he's going to win one. I don't know if it's here.

”I like the way Joao Fonseca played. I think he'd be tough to beat. I really do, but there are a lot of young guys that are in the draw that are tough to beat, but Sascha is definitely the big favourite."

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