Fonseca arrived at this point of the tournament after a thrilling win over fellow rising star Dino Prizmic.
Amid an electric atmosphere on Court 14, Fonseca recovered from two-sets-to-love down to win the first five-set match of his career.
Prizmic had been just one set away from setting up a Rome rematch against Djokovic, a few weeks after overcoming his idol at the Foro Italico to continue his impressive rise.
Yet with Fonseca’s victory, the Brazilian maintained his own upward trajectory, after earlier in 2026 struggling with injury and form.
JOAO FONSECA: Aiming for finals against Sinner and Alcaraz
“I’m very happy the way that I stayed positive, the way that I stayed with the good mentality,” Fonseca said after beating Prizmic 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-2. “My physique went well, and I got through after two sets down.”
Fonseca’s 2026 surge began at Indian Wells, where he powered into the fourth round then pushed Sinner to the limit in two tight tiebreaks. At his next event in Miami, it was Alcaraz who ended his campaign in straight sets.
Next came quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and Munich, before his latest wins in Paris – progress Djokovic has observed.
“Fonseca has been praised so much in the last couple of years. I think his potential and quality as a tennis player is obvious,” Djokovic said.
“He’s got big Brazilian support anywhere he goes. I think he’s a big-stage player. He really loves the occasion, loves to play night sessions.