João Fonseca Advances to Third Round at Roland Garros with Historic Victory

PARIS, France — At just 18 years old, João Fonseca made history at Roland Garros by reaching the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the Brazilian tennis player defeated France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert, age 34, in a grueling 2-hour, 54-minute match on Court 14, winning with a score of 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), and 6-4.

The match featured a lively crowd, with fans split between French and Brazilian supporters. Fonseca, ranked number 65 in the world, faced a veteran opponent well-known for his doubles success. Despite the pressure, Fonseca displayed remarkable resilience throughout the match, overcoming two tie-breaks and a seasoned player.

This victory marks a significant milestone in Fonseca’s career, following successful titles earlier this year in Buenos Aires and Phoenix. The Brazilian aims to solidify his position in professional tennis and is set to compete against the winner of the match between Jack Draper and Gael Monfils in the third round on Saturday.

Entering this match, Fonseca was filled with anticipation. Facing a player with four Grand Slam doubles titles, he kept his focus amidst the French crowd’s support for Herbert. The match began with both players exchanging strong serves, with Fonseca capitalizing on a critical break opportunity early on.

Herbert managed to break back and took a lead at 4-2, but Fonseca fought back to level the set at 4-4, leading to a tightly contested tie-break that he won 7-4. The second set saw Fonseca break Herbert’s serve but missed opportunities to secure the set outright, allowing Herbert to force another tie-break. Fonseca again proved victorious with another 7-4 win.

In the third set, both players held their serves until Fonseca broke Herbert again, pushing the match to a close with a 6-4 set victory. This performance came after Fonseca’s previous challenges in earlier tournaments, proving he has returned to form just in time for Roland Garros.

Although Herbert, ranked 147th in singles, is a formidable doubles competitor, his 34 unforced errors and visible fatigue in the third set hindered his performance. Fonseca, now preparing for a significant match against world number 5 Jack Draper, is inspired by the energy of his fans and hopes to continue his impressive run.

Meanwhile, Brazilian talent continues to shine at Roland Garros, with Beatriz Haddad Maia and Luisa Stefani also achieving success in the doubles. Fonseca’s journey has drawn comparisons to Gustavo Kuerten, a three-time champion at Roland Garros, as he becomes the youngest Brazilian to reach the third round of this prestigious tournament since Kuerten.

Fans are eagerly awaiting Fonseca’s next match, scheduled for Saturday, where he hopes to secure his first round of 16 appearance in a Grand Slam, a feat that has not been achieved by a Brazilian at such a young age in years.