Novak Djokovic Hadapi Joao Fonseca pada Babak Ketiga Prancis Terbuka

Petenis legendaris Novak Djokovic dijadwalkan bertanding melawan bintang muda Brasil Joao Fonseca pada babak ketiga turnamen Prancis Terbuka di Lapangan Philippe-Chatrier, Paris, pada Jumat, 29 Mei 2026.

Pertandingan ini menjadi pertemuan pertama bagi kedua pemain setelah Jannik Sinner tersingkir di babak kedua, yang membuat peta persaingan turnamen Grand Slam ini menjadi lebih terbuka.

Djokovic yang kini berusia 39 tahun tercatat telah mengoleksi 24 gelar tunggal Grand Slam, namun ia harus melalui laga empat set dalam dua putaran pertama dengan total waktu bermain lebih dari enam setengah jam.

Sementara itu, Fonseca yang berusia 19 tahun melaju ke babak ketiga dalam waktu lima jam 41 menit setelah sebelumnya sempat menembus perempat final di Monte Carlo musim ini.

Mantan juara Prancis Terbuka, Djokovic, memberikan penilaian mengenai performa dan bakat yang dimiliki oleh calon lawan mudanya tersebut.

"Fonseca has been praised so much in the last couple of years. I think his potential and quality as a tennis player is obvious, no doubt about it. He's got big Brazilian support anywhere he goes. I think he's a big-stage player. He really loves the occasion. He played a great match with Sinner I think earlier this year at Indian Wells. He won against Rublev I think in Australia, straight sets [last year]. So he can definitely step up in the big occasion and deliver big shots, big game." kata Djokovic.

Di sisi lain, Fonseca menyatakan kegembiraannya dapat berada dalam satu undian dan bertanding melawan pemain yang menjadi idolanya.

"Playing Novak, for me it's just a big pleasure. I always say to my coach: I want to be in Novak's draw, because I know [his career] is not going to last too much [longer]. I just want to have this experience in my life. I think I'm just going to enjoy it. I mean, being in Roland-Garros, third round, for me it's just a dream. I'm going to enjoy every moment playing against an idol, the GOAT of the sport. Hopefully I can do a great match. Of course, stepping on the court, of course I'm going to respect him, but trying to make my best and win this match." ujar Fonseca.

Selain partai utama tersebut, hari keenam Roland Garros 2026 juga akan menyajikan pertandingan sesama petenis Polandia antara Iga Swiatek dan Magda Linette di Lapangan Philippe-Chatrier.

Linette mengungkapkan bahwa modal kemenangan atas Swiatek di Miami pada Maret lalu memberikan ketenangan tersendiri bagi dirinya.

"That definitely gives me some more calmness when I’m losing the first set. I’m really glad that I’m staying composed." kata Linette.

Pada pertandingan lainnya di Lapangan Suzanne-Lenglen, Andrey Rublev dijadwalkan menghadapi Nuno Borges dengan menerapkan variasi pukulan baru hasil evaluasi bersama tim pelatihnya.

"When the score is tight, of course in the past I would only hit forehand. Now sometimes when even the score is tight, I start to do sometimes dropshots." kata Rublev.

Selanjutnya, Mirra Andreeva juga bersiap tampil tanpa beban menghadapi Marie Bouzkova setelah mencatatkan hasil impresif di Linz dan Madrid tahun ini.

"I never set any expectations on myself about the game or about how I'm going to play. But obviously every tournament that I play, I play to win. I think that if I have the right mindset and the belief that I can win or beat some certain players, I think that I can play very well." kata Andreeva.