Why Novak Djokovic now has 'every chance of winning' Wimbledon despite Joao Fonseca loss at French Open

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Novak Djokovic may have bowed out of the French Open in the third round after a five-set defeat to Joao Fonseca but Boris Becker and Jim Courier saw reasons for the 24-time Grand Slam winner to be optimistic.

'I don't care' - Djokovic shuts down Sinner, Alcaraz question after loss

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Djokovic let a two-set lead slip as he was beaten in nearly five hours by 19-year-old Fonseca.

It is only the second time in his Grand Slam career that Djokovic has lost a match after winning the first two sets (the other also coming at the French Open against Jurgen Melzer in 2010).

Djokovic said that he ”ran out gas” towards the end of a physical contest but was ”happy” with his level.

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It was only Djokovic’s fourth match since the middle of March because he missed most of the clay season due to a shoulder injury.

"An incredible display of fighting spirit from Novak at 39 years of age against a challenger who is 20 years his junior,” his former coach Becker told TNT Sports.

”Joao is a great player and a great character too. He showed respect for Novak and even went so far as to congratulate his mother. We’re going to be hearing a lot more from him."

Becker added: "Novak didn’t know before the tournament whether he was match fit. Since today, at the very latest, we know that he is.

Djokovic says he 'ran out of gas' against 'lights-out' Fonseca

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”Wimbledon isn’t quite as physically demanding. That’s his next big goal and, after his performances this week, he has every chance of winning the title there."

Djokovic is a seven-time winner of Wimbledon, which starts on June 29.

He was beaten in the semi-finals of the grass Grand Slam last year by Jannik Sinner and lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz in his previous two appearances.

Courier said: "Novak played great and if he can take this level that he played today into the All England Club he will be extraordinarily tough to beat."

The 39-year-old was pushed to four sets in his opening two matches at the French Open and was then taken all the way by Fonseca.

He led by a break in the fifth set but couldn’t close it out against the hard-hitting Brazilian.

”I think I was playing good tennis, really good level,” he said afterwards.

”Considering I was injured for three months and trying to come back and then going pretty much straight into a Grand Slam on this surface that is very demanding and, for me, takes more time to get used to, to kind of find my groove.

”Taking everything in consideration and all the circumstances, I think the level was really good. I was happy with my level. Of course, right now being disappointed right off the court, losing, being close to win it.”

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