Ah, but it is the occasion that matters. This is their first meeting and it is one that Fonseca has been looking forward to since he started on the main tour.
“Playing Novak, for me it’s just a big pleasure,” he said. “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.”
The questions are: will Fonseca have the nerve and the nous to beat Djokovic and will Djokovic have the reserves of strength and stamina to deal with, potentially, a five-set slugfest? All will be revealed on Friday afternoon.
Court Philippe-Chatrier, first match
Iga Swiatek (3) vs Magda Linette
Never before in the Open era have two Poles, male or female, played each other at Roland-Garros. That guarantees the winner their own place in the record books. But Swiatek and Linette have played each other twice before with honours even. The first time was in China in 2023 when Swiatek was at the height of her powers; she allowed her countrywoman a miserly two games. But the latest meeting was in Miami this March and Linette got her revenge. She had to come from behind, but won nonetheless.
It is not the first time this year Linette has dropped a set and gone on to win – and that simply adds to her confidence. “That definitely gives me some more calmness when I’m losing the first set,” she said. “I’m really glad that I’m staying composed.” She stayed as cool as can be when she lost the second set to Jelena Ostapenko in the previous round. And that is the same Ostapenko who has beaten Swiatek six times in a row. Linette is flying high at the moment and after the upsets of the past couple of days, who knows what awaits her on Friday.
Court Suzanne-Lenglen, first match
Andrey Rublev (11) vs Nuno Borges
There is an old expression: you can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink. So it has been with Rublev and his game style. The forehand is a thing of brutal power but he needs so much more than one big shot. Finally, after years of being told, he and his team (which includes the great Marat Safin) are working on a little variety: the occasional drop shot; some finesse. It might not always work but Rublev is willing to try.
“When the score is tight, of course in the past I would only hit forehand,” he said. “Now sometimes when even the score is tight, I start to do sometimes dropshots.” Borges had better keep his wits about him: the new variety coupled with the old forehand could be a winning formula.
Court Philippe-Chatrier, second match
Mirra Andreeva (8) vs Marie Bouzkova (27)
There is a refreshing honesty about Andreeva. She is not one to promote herself as a champion in waiting and neither is she one to refuse to give herself a chance (a classic trick for any player trying to dodge the pressure). Instead, she plays her game, her way; she owns up to any mistakes and enjoys any successes. “I never set any expectations on myself about the game or about how I’m going to play,” she said. “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.”
So far on the clay this year, she has done just that (she won the title in Linz and reached the final in Madrid). And she has beaten Bouzkova four times out of four in the past.
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