Joao Fonseca did something only on Friday that one other player has ever done: Come from two sets down to defeat Novak Djokovic.
The Brazilian sensation looked out of answers in the first two sets against the 24-time Grand Slam champion, but he turned the tide with a clinical third set and built on the momentum en route to a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 victory.
Fonseca is now the fourth favorite to win the French Open.
Grand Slam tennis is a funny business. While Fonseca’s triumph over Djokovic was a life-changing result for the 19-year-old, he’s now staring down an even bigger opportunity: winning a Grand Slam.
With Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz all out of the picture, there is a real chance that Fonseca can take this thing.
He will, however, have a really tricky opponent waiting for him in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
Like Fonseca, Casper Ruud is coming off a thrilling come-from-behind win in the third round. The Norwegian survived two match points from American Tommy Paul in a five-hour thriller, punching his ticket to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the fourth time in the last five years.
With both players coming off marathon matches, the fatigue factor for this match is a wash, but the stylistic matchup should make for terrific viewing.
While Fonseca is a dynamic talent with all sorts of power, Ruud is a relentless defender who is a master at extending rallies and rescuing points thanks to his speed and tenacity.
Fonseca may be riding a high and boasts the higher ceiling, but Ruud has the higher floor. His experience as a two-time runner-up at Roland Garros also can’t be overstated.
Fonseca is rightfully the talk of the tennis world right now, but that’s often a signal that a player will be overvalued in his next match. We’ll ride with Ruud to get this one over the line and end the Fonseca fairytale under the lights in Paris.
The Play: Casper Ruud moneyline (-150, FanDuel)
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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