ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2026

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

J. FONSECA/N. Djokovic

4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Novak, just your thoughts overall on the match?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, an incredible match to be part of. Obviously, tough one for me to lose being 2 sets to love up, but huge credit to Joao for really deserving to win the match.

I think he, without a doubt, was the better player in important moments in those crucial fourth and fifth. Some amazing exchanges and points. Yeah, he just found incredible shots, lines. It was just amazing from his side.

Obviously not great for me to be facing a player playing in such level, but yeah, I don't think I've done too much wrong with my game. It's just that he was just better.

Q. With Carlos sidelined and Jannik losing yesterday, did your mind begin to sort of dance and dream and think about the rest --

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't care. I don't care. I'll stop you right there. No. Just lost third round. Let's just talk about something else. Thank you.

Q. In general, what was your belief level now looking back at this tournament about your readiness for playing here? You have not played a ton of tennis obviously this year. Do you feel like that was a factor in this match as it went on?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The amount of hours I've played in three matches here felt like I played every tournament in last three months, to be honest. So, yeah, I think I was playing good tennis, really good level.

Considering I was injured for three months and trying to come back and then, you know, going pretty much straight into Grand Slam on this surface that is very demanding and, for me, takes more time to get used to, to kind of find my groove. You know, taking everything in consideration and all the circumstances, I think the level was really good.

I mean, I was happy with my level. Of course, right now being disappointed right off the court, losing, being close to win it. Yeah, that's all I can say.

Q. Novak, we know you are very gracious in defeats with your opponents. We saw you talking to Joao at the net. If you want to say us what you told him, we're happy to have the information. But more globally speaking, how do you see his potential, his future, his game, the tennis player he is today and he might be tomorrow?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, of course, I congratulated him and told him that he deserved to win and played an unbelievable match, and he should be proud of himself and, you know, wishing him good luck for the rest of the tournament.

The kind of level of tennis we've seen him play created a lot of hype around him, and I think we all seen today why there is hype around him. So, yeah, just the level was amazing.

Q. Regarding the outcome today and the results, do you realize the legacy you're leaving us with 39 years old, playing five sets in Grand Slams like this?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Tough to reflect on this right now, if you all would understand me. But at the same time, a couple times where I felt like I was barely standing on my legs towards the end of the match, and looking at the crowd and seeing them lift my spirits and support me was something really magical, honestly.

So when I take out all the disappointment and negative thoughts about the match, you know, there's a lot to be proud about, what I've been through, what I experienced, you know. I'm very grateful for this kind of experience, yeah.

Q. Novak, will we see you back at Roland Garros next year?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know.

Q. Would it be okay if that was your last match to play against a player like that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know.

Q. It was about Fonseca. You obviously played a great, great match, and I was basically going to ask about if you see him maybe as the next next achieving great things in the future?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Hopefully. Hopefully. He definitely has the potential to do that. Things have to come together. You know, of course, he's very professional from what I've seen so far, the last couple of years he's been on the tour, which is preconditioned for success.

Talent, he's got firepower. He's got the whole Brazilian nation cheering him up, so there's a lot of excitement around him, rightfully so. So hopefully he can be the next great thing, you know, win slams. Definitely wish to see that.

Q. Watching the first two sets I had the impression that you were always choosing the right choice. You were always making the right choice, and he was playing a little bit like a junior. Did you ever have the impression that you were the one who could decide the match when you were still fresher? There was something missing probably because of lack of energies?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It would be nice if it was best-of-three (smiling), but it's not. Yeah, 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.

You know, I think end of the fourth was my chance. I felt like best chance. 4-3, 15-40. He just played really good points. He was attacking, big serves.

When I look back in important moments, could I have done something different? You know, you can always say, yes, but you just have to say, Well done, and congratulate him. Hats off. He just played lights-out tennis. Every time there was a decisive moment, he went for it.

Maybe the only my fault was at 3-1 in the fifth and serving and when I dropped the serve. But, again, he played a couple of very aggressive points, and any ball coming to his forehand, around the forehand, mid-forehands, he was crushing it. It was really hard to read, and he was just playing with extreme pace.

Break point to come back to the match, three aces. What can you do? You know, with strongest aces he's got the whole match, 220, 215. So the only thing you can say is, Well done. That's it.