Novak Djokovic Reacts To Shocking Loss vs. João Fonseca - Full Press Conference — Roland-Garros 2026

[0:00] Novak, just your thoughts overall on the match? [0:05] Well, an incredible match to be part of. [0:07] Obviously, a tough one for me to lose, being two sets to love up. [0:11] But huge credit to Joao for really deserving to win the match. [0:17] I think he, without a doubt, was a better player in important moments [0:22] and those crucial fourth and fifth, you know, some amazing exchanges and points. [0:30] And he just, yeah, he found incredible shots, lines. [0:34] I mean, it was just amazing from his side. [0:39] Obviously, not great for me to be facing player playing in such level. [0:43] But, yeah, I don't think I've done too much wrong with my game. [0:51] It's just that he was just better. [0:52] Hey, Novak, tough luck today. [0:58] With Carlos sidelined and Yannick losing yesterday, [1:01] did your mind begin to sort of dance and dream and think about the rest of it? [1:05] I'll stop you right there. [1:06] No, just lost third round. [1:09] Let's just talk about something else. [1:10] Thank you. [1:15] In general, what was your belief level now looking back at this tournament [1:19] about your readiness for playing here? [1:21] You have now played a ton of tennis this year. [1:23] And do you feel like that was a factor in this match as it went on? [1:27] The amount of hours I played in three matches here felt like [1:31] I played every tournament in the last three months, to be honest. [1:34] So, yeah, I think I was playing good tennis, really good level. [1:39] I, you know, considering I was injured for three months and trying to come back and then, [1:48] you know, going pretty much straight into Grand Slam on this surface, that's, you know, [1:54] it's very demanding. [1:54] And for me, it takes more time to get used to, to kind of find my groove. [2:00] But, you know, taking everything in consideration and all the circumstances, [2:07] I think, you know, the level, level was really good. [2:11] I mean, I was happy with my level, of course, right now, being disappointed right off the court, [2:15] losing, uh, being close to win it. And yeah, that's all I can say. [2:22] Uh, Novak, here on your right. [2:28] Um, we know you are very gracious in defeats, uh, with your opponents. [2:33] We saw you talking to Joao at the, at the net. [2:36] Um, if you want to say yes, what you told him, we're happy to have the information. [2:41] But more globally speaking, how do you see his potential, his future, his game, [2:46] his, uh, the tennis player he is today and he might be tomorrow? [2:50] Well, uh, of course, I congratulated him and told him that he deserved to win [2:58] and played an unbelievable match and he should be proud of himself and, you know, [3:03] wishing him good luck for, for the rest of the tournament. [3:08] The, the kind of level of, of tennis we've seen him play created a lot of hype around him. [3:15] And I think we all seen today why there is hype around him. [3:18] So, uh, yeah, just the level was amazing. [3:23] Novak, regarding the outcome today and the results, [3:27] do you realize the legacy you're leaving us with 39 years old, [3:31] playing five sets in Grand Slams like this? [3:34] It's tough to reflect on this, on this right now, if you, if you all would understand me. [3:45] But at the same time, a couple of times where I felt like I was barely standing on my legs, [3:51] you know, towards the end of the match and looking at the crowd and, and seeing them [3:58] lift my spirits and support me was something really magical, honestly. [4:03] So, I, I, um, when I take out all the disappointment and, you know, negative thoughts about the match, [4:14] you know, there's, there's a lot to be proud about what I've been through, what I experienced, [4:20] you know, and, uh, I'm very grateful for this kind of experience, yeah. [4:26] Novak, will we see you back at Roland Garros next year? [4:31] I don't know. [4:31] Would it be okay if that was your last match against, to play against a player like that? [4:38] I don't know. [4:44] Yeah, it was about, I mean, Fonseca, you, you obviously played a great, great match. [4:50] And, and, and I was basically going to ask about, um, if you see him maybe as the next next, um, [4:58] achieving great things in the future. [5:00] Hopefully, I mean, he definitely has the potential to do that. [5:06] Things have to come together. [5:09] And of course, he's very professional from what I've seen so far, last couple of years, [5:16] he's been on the tour, which is, um, precondition for success. [5:21] Uh, talent he's got, firepower he's got, and, uh, the whole Brazilian nation, you know, cheering him up. [5:30] So there's a lot of excitement around him, uh, rightfully so. [5:34] So hopefully he can be the, the next great thing, you know, win slams, you know, [5:38] I definitely wish, wish to see that. [5:45] Ciao. [5:47] Sorry. [5:49] Well, watching the first two sets, I had the impression that you were always [5:54] choosing the right choice. [5:55] You were always making the right choice. [5:58] And he was playing a little bit like a junior. [6:00] Did you have the impression that you were the one who could decide the match in the, [6:08] when you were still fresher? [6:12] That there was something missing probably because of any lack of energies? [6:16] Well, if it would be nice if it was best of three, [6:22] but it's not. [6:23] Um, and, uh, yeah, I just, I ran out of gas, to be honest. [6:30] I didn't, didn't feel, didn't feel good at all on the court in the next couple of sets. [6:37] You know, I think end of the fourth was my chance. [6:40] I felt like best chance, 4-3, 15-40, he just played really good points. [6:46] I mean, he, he was attacking, he was, I mean, big serves. [6:52] When I, when I look back, uh, in important moments, could I have done something different? [6:57] You know, you can always say yes, but you just have to say well done and congratulate him. [7:04] Hats off. [7:05] I mean, he just played lights out tennis. [7:07] Every time there was a decisive moment, uh, he went for it. [7:14] Maybe the only my fault was, uh, 3-1 in the fifth and serving and when I dropped the serve. [7:19] But again, he played a couple of very aggressive points and any ball coming to his forehand, [7:25] around the forehand, mid, mid, mid forehands, he was crushing it and it was really hard to, [7:31] to read and he was just playing with extreme pace and, uh, break point to come back to the match, [7:38] three aces, you know, what can you do? [7:40] You know, with strongest aces he's got the whole match two 20, two 15, so you know, [7:46] only thing you can say is well done. [7:47] That's, that's it. [7:49] Well, you know, you know, you know, you're a big player and a great player. [8:03] Well, you know, you've always told me that you're a great player and a great player of the game. [8:11] It's always fun for me to say that you're a great player of the game. [8:12] I mean, after this experience, and with everything that's happened over the past months, [8:18] especially this year on the tournament, [8:19] Do you think that tennis is really hyper-dynamized with young players who have great success, great, great, great, great, what is happening here? [8:32] It's not unusual. Normal is that you have new generation of young tennisers who come, who are good, who are dynamic, who are fast, who are explosive. [8:45] One of them is Fonseca and we know that he has a very strong, talented, complete player. [8:53] Today he showed that he has potential for the greatest matchups in the context of how he played, how he felt, how he remained, [9:07] and that he has a very strong chance. I don't know what I mean. When I analyze, I don't believe that I have a lot of mistakes here. [9:18] How much is he doing, how much is he doing, how much is he doing, how much is he doing, how much is he doing. [9:24] I think that's what I'm doing. I would like to say that I have 19 years old at one point on the ground. [9:41] I'm going to play, but I'm going to play several games. I'm going to play, but I'm going to play a game. [9:49] I'm going to play with you and then I'm going to play with you. [9:55] I'm going to play with you. The game is the only one, no one, no one, no one. [10:05] the spirit of the Vuk that I'm wearing is always present and I won't give anyone else to play. [10:15] So if I win someone on this way, I'll just say that I'm proud of him, but he has to do it, and I'm sure I won't let him do it. [10:24] Nola, you said many positive things. What is the situation now with ramen and do you think about optimism? [10:31] I'm going to be optimistic, but before 10 minutes I'm still on the ground. [10:40] You'll understand that I'm very disappointed and I'll see you tomorrow and see what's going on. [10:52] This is the second round from 2-0 to 2-3. I remember Melcer and 2010. [11:04] Is it possible to be in a position of the match and how do you look at the period of 16 years ago? [11:14] No, I didn't really think about it. I know that I didn't have a lot of mistakes from me from 2-0 to 2-0. [11:22] It was just a struggle. I mean, while I had good energy and heat, while I was relatively warm, everything was good. [11:34] Unfortunately, the ball was so much so and he was able to take a break in the third round. [11:43] He got a set and there was a little bit of the public on his side. [11:49] It was a bit complicated on the ground, it was a lot of energy, and it was a lot easier in the games of the 4th and 5th. [11:58] I had the chance on the 4th and 4th and 4th and 4th. He had a chance to win two of them. [12:03] That's what I think. [12:05] I'm not sure what to say, except that he is proud of the great quality of the game. [12:13] He has shown a great joy for young players. [12:19] Thank you, people.