Joao Fonseca fights back from two sets down to stun Novak Djokovic in French Open third-round thriller

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Joao Fonseca showed why there has been so much hype around him as he fought back from two sets down to stun Novak Djokovic in a thrilling French Open clash.

Watch as Djokovic wins incredible rally as he out-lasts rising star Fonseca and fans go wild

Video credit: TNT Sports

Fonseca, 19, has been one of the most-talked about players on tour in the last 18 months, and he delivered the biggest win of his career as he stunned Djokovic 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 7-5.

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).

Asked when he believed he could pull off the upset, Fonseca, who was two points from defeat in the fourth set, said: ”I actually didn’t.

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"I just played and enjoy being on court. What a pleasure it was, what an idol, it is just a pleasure stepping on court against him.

”I was just trying to hit the ball as fast as I could, he just doesn’t miss, we still think he’s 20. I think at the end of the match he was more fit than me, it’s crazy.”

Djokovic's exit means there will be a first-time Grand Slam winner at the French Open, with Fonseca facing two-time runner-up Casper Ruud in the last 16.

Djokovic had started in the ascendancy, immediately pouncing on a seemingly out-of-sorts Fonseca to open up a big lead in the first set.

The Serbian's standard was faultless in the opening exchanges, his forehand practically perfect, finding wide angles to send Fonseca scrambling.

Fonseca undoubtedly had the majority backing of the crowd, and they audibly approved as he grew into the match, finding a break for 5-3 which proved to be too little as Djokovic wrapped up the opener in 48 minutes.

'Something supernatural!' - Fonseca stuns Djokovic in five-set thriller

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By the second set, the gulf between the two was far narrower, though Djokovic was still shading it.

A competitive opening four games saw holds exchanged, and one of the points of the tournament so far, as a cat-and-mouse net exchange ensued after a high-octane baseline battle, ending in Djokovic's favour as he nestled a volley beyond the despairing teenager.

'Living his dream' - Fonseca wins thrilling rally to extend lead

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Djokovic's forehand continued to do the talking as his rasping winner earned the first break for a 3-2 lead, and he stood firm to close the door on Fonseca's only break-point opportunity to hold for 5-3 and see out the set for a healthy lead.

After an angry exchange with the courtside camera operator between sets, Djokovic - who appeared to be struggling with either the sun or sweat in his eyes - fell behind in a set for the first time in the match.

Sheer baseline power contributed to Djokovic buckling, and the three-time French Open champion could do little else than direct Fonseca's thumping cross-court backhand into the net on break point.

Fonseca saved two break points in order to consolidate, and another to avoid a costly setback when serving for the set. Locked at deuce, he rattled two thumping aces to win it and reduce his arrears.

The momentum looked to be with the Brazilian as he continued to unload on his forehand to break in the first game of the fourth set.

Djokovic wins thrilling rally against Fonseca to edge ahead in fifth set

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Djokovic hit back to level at 2-2 and clawed his way back to get two points from victory at 5-4.

But Fonseca didn't waver and held serve, before breaking and then taking the set.

A gripping fifth set went to the wire, and it was Fonseca who came out on top, winning the last three games to secure a famous win.

Djokovic earned a break point as Fonseca served for the win but the Brazilian responded with three successive aces.

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