{"id":199917,"date":"2026-05-29T23:34:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T23:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/05\/29\/the-clearest-sign-father-time-is-closing-in-on-djokovic\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T23:34:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T23:34:12","slug":"the-clearest-sign-father-time-is-closing-in-on-djokovic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/05\/29\/the-clearest-sign-father-time-is-closing-in-on-djokovic\/","title":{"rendered":"The clearest sign Father Time is closing in on Djokovic?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

When you consider all the ingredients and put them together in one pot, you could only conclude Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca cooked up a French Open classic. <\/b><\/p>\n

Five sets. Almost five hours. Fluctuating drama. A carnival atmosphere. And a conclusion which nobody dared predict until Fonseca blasted down another ace to seal a victory which will never be forgotten.<\/p>\n

It was a match for the ages.<\/p>\n

Not only because of the quality and drama on display in a gripping contest – but for the fact Djokovic was old enough to be Fonseca’s dad. <\/p>\n

Djokovic, 39, departed Roland Garros for what he once again conceded might the final time, while 19-year-old Fonseca lapped up the acclaim after what seems certain to be the first of many memorable Grand Slam victories.<\/p>\n

With Jannik Sinner beaten and Carlos Alcaraz injured, Djokovic has watched a golden opportunity to land a standalone record 25th major slip through his fingers.<\/p>\n

Sure, German second seed Alexander Zverev and two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud remain in that half of the draw.<\/p>\n

But had fourth seed Djokovic come through against Fonseca – as looked likely when he was two sets up, with break points when leading 4-3 in the fourth – it felt like he would grind through the gears next week in cooler temperatures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Instead, he must now reset and recharge to go again at Wimbledon next month.<\/p>\n

Given he is a seven-time champion on a grass surface which younger players have struggled to master, Djokovic will always fancy his chances at the All England Club.<\/p>\n

Djokovic can never be ruled out of becoming the oldest major men’s singles champion of all time, but Father Time has been sat waiting on Djokovic’s shoulder for a good while.<\/p>\n

By rights, he should probably be basking in a post-retirement glow by now. <\/p>\n

Coaching a young compatriot away from the public glare like Andy Murray, perhaps. Doing a promotional tour for a new Netflix documentary like Rafael Nadal, maybe.<\/p>\n

While his long-time rivals move into the next phase of their lives, Djokovic was retching at the side of a court in an attempt to summon the energy to beat a teenager.<\/p>\n

It is a testament to his superpower that he still wants to push himself to such limits against much younger opponents.<\/p>\n

As we have seen time and time again, Djokovic’s insatiable appetite for the sport’s biggest prizes will never diminish.<\/p>\n

But, having reached at least the semi-finals at the past five Grand Slams, this was the clearest sign yet that the ageing process was finally catching up with him.<\/p>\n

Djokovic looked in complete control as he moved two sets ahead, but could not maintain his level as Fonseca proved he is the real deal.<\/p>\n

“It would be nice if it was best-of-three,” Djokovic smiled.<\/p>\n

“I just ran out of gas, to be honest. I didn’t feel good at all on the court in the next couple of sets.”<\/p>\n

Djokovic has always thrived in the best-of-five format of the majors, beating almost anybody who has stood in his way for almost two years.<\/p>\n

The only exceptions have been Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and the knee injury which forced him to quit against Alexander Zverev at last year’s Australian Open.<\/p>\n

Everyone else has not been good enough, or not had the mentality, to see veteran Djokovic off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Djokovic has continued to maintain he can beat anyone when he is playing close to his best.<\/p>\n

So the admission he made in the Roland Garros media centre – less than half an hour after walking off the court against Fonseca – was revealing.<\/p>\n

“I think the level was really good. I was happy with my level,” said Djokovic, who was playing at only his third event since losing to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in January.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong with my game. It’s just that he was just better.”<\/p>\n

Like virtually everyone else who watches tennis, Djokovic has suspected for a long time that Fonseca has the capacity to go to the top.<\/p>\n

Djokovic revealed as early as last year’s Australian Open that he was already a member of Fonseca’s growing fan club, even though the Brazilian teenager had barely played a Grand Slam match at that stage.<\/p>\n

In their first meeting on the match court, Djokovic found out first hand how good he actually is.<\/p>\n

Fonseca’s biggest weapon is the ferocious forehand that leaves opponents beaten and spectators gasping with excitement.<\/p>\n

While that was again the case on Chatrier, what was arguably more impressive was his ability to demonstrate a more subtle approach as victory came into sight.<\/p>\n

Fonseca knew Djokovic was waning physically on another hot Paris evening, showing the composure to play the right shots at the right times – and execute them – to inflict serious damage.<\/p>\n

If the greater consistency of his groundstrokes was the jab, the deftness of his dropshot was the body shot. The strength of his serve – firing down three aces from a break down to seal victory – proved to be the knockout blow.<\/p>\n

“I think we all saw today why there is hype around him,” said Djokovic.<\/p>\n

This was the moment which the thousands of boisterous Brazilians inside Court Philippe Chatrier – and those who have descended on tournaments over the past two years – had been waiting for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Queues have regularly been snaking outside the outside courts wherever Fonseca has played – from Melbourne to Miami, Roland Garros to Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n

Only two players from the South American nation – Maria Bueno and Gustavo Kuerten – have won major singles titles.<\/p>\n

Kuerten was the last Brazilian man to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy when he claimed his third French Open title in 2001.<\/p>\n

The fans who created pockets of green and gold – by wearing Brazil football shirts and waving national flags – celebrated joyously and chanted Fonseca’s name when he completed a long-awaited landmark win.<\/p>\n

Now the Brazilians are dreaming Fonseca will follow in Kuerten’s footsteps and win the Coupe des Mousquetaires next weekend.<\/p>\n

It is fanciful, seeing as he has only reached the last 16 of a major for the first time, but not impossible given the men’s draw continues to be blown wide open.<\/p>\n

Djokovic’s elimination means a first-time Grand Slam champion is guaranteed, following the shock departure of heavy favourite Sinner on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Someone will take advantage. On reflection, Djokovic may feel it should have been him. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you consider all the ingredients and put them together in one pot, you could only conclude Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca cooked up a French Open classic. Five sets. Almost five hours. Fluctuating drama. A carnival atmosphere. And a conclusion which nobody dared predict until Fonseca blasted down another ace to seal a victory […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-199917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nThe clearest sign Father Time is closing in on Djokovic? - Tahrir News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/05\/29\/the-clearest-sign-father-time-is-closing-in-on-djokovic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The clearest sign Father Time is closing in on Djokovic?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When you consider all the ingredients and put them together in one pot, you could only conclude Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca cooked up a French Open classic. 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