Novak Djokovic Sends Final Message to Joao Fonseca After French Open Elimination
Three of the biggest names in men's tennis won't be playing in the final of the French Open.
Or the semifinal. Or the quarterfinal.
Carlos Alcaraz announced his decision not to play Roland Garros after suffering a wrist injury earlier in the season. Then in the second round of the French Open, Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, suffered a devastating collapse, losing in a shocking upset to Juan Manuel Cerundolo this week.
Next it was Novak Djokovic.
Rising Brazilian teenager João Fonseca knocked him out of the French Open Friday night in a five-set thriller, coming from two sets down to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in four hours and 53 minutes.
Novak Djokovic Sends Final Message to Joao Fonseca
After taking the night to sleep on his elimination from the tournament, Djokovic sent a final message to the opponent who defeated him.
"An epic battle, Joao. And a hard-fought victory you deserve. Best of luck for the rest of the tournament and the incredible career you have ahead of you," he said on social media.
An epic battle, Joao. And a hard-fought victory you deserve. Best of luck for the rest of the tournament and the incredible career you have ahead of you.
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) May 30, 2026
As for Paris… tu as mon coeur pic.twitter.com/3a23JriOSB
He also delivered a final message for Paris, after admitting he doesn't know if he'll play in the French Open in 2027.
"As for Paris… tu as mon coeur," he wrote, letting Paris know it has his heart.
Novak Djokovic Battled Heat, Exhaustion
A running theme of the French Open this year is the brutal conditions. Some of the world's most elite tennis players are struggling in the heat, with temperatures reaching the mid-90s.
"(There were) a couple times where I felt like I was barely standing on my legs towards the end of the match," Djokovic said after his match. "And looking at the crowd and seeing them lift my spirits and support me was something really magical, honestly."
Sinner was a victim of the conditions as well, revealing he struggled during his loss to Cerundolo.
"I struggled and started to feel very dizzy, very low on energy. I tried to serve it out but didn't have a lot of energy. In the fourth set, I let it go a little bit trying to have a bit more energy in the fifth. The first one was a very important game and I couldn't hold. Then it went a bit downwards," he said.
Alexander Zverev remains the lowest seed in the tournament at No. 2.
Related: Tennis Stars Demand Roland Garros Change Amid French Open Disaster
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 7:10 AM.