Joao Fonseca Explains Difference Between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic Before Blockbuster Roland Garros Clash with Serb

Joao Fonseca has already met Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and lost both times. And now, the teen sensation has set up a clash with none other than Novak Djokovic.

They will meet in the third round of the French Open. Fonseca first beat Luka Pavlovic in straight sets and then went past Dino Prizmic in four sets. Djokovic dropped a set in his previous two matches, against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and then against Valentin Royer. At the press conference after his latest win, Fonseca was asked about the difference between Sinner and Djokovic.

Well, they’re two machines. I still think Novak, because of like, the third guy that he says and that everyone says, after [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal, he needed to have like a great mentality. I think that’s the difference. Both of them play unbelievable. I can’t say nothing about them. Just winning everything. The history Djokovic did for this sport and what Sinner is doing right now is just unbelievable.

Joao Fonseca said at the press conference

Sinner, who defeated Clement Tabur in his first round, will play Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round. Both Sinner and Djokovic are chasing history in the French capital: the Serb will clinch his 25th Major if he wins, while the Italian will complete the Career Grand Slam. They will only face each other if they progress to the final.

I think still the mentality, Jannik is gonna… well, I can’t say that he’s gonna just be as great as Novak or Nadal or Federer, but I think he’s gonna be one of those guys. Maybe he’s gonna reach it. I don’t know. But with this consistency, the way that he’s playing, the way that he’s dealing with pressure is really unbelievable. I think having Novak in this sport is just a pleasure. He inspired me. He inspired the next generation and the generation before. I think that’s it.

Joao Fonseca added

Sinner is on a 30-match winning streak as he has yet to lose a match since his quarterfinal defeat in Doha. Since then, he lifted the first five Masters 1000s of the season, becoming the first man to do so, and is also the second man, after Djokovic, to achieve the Career Golden Masters.

Novak Djokovic on the heat rule at Roland Garros

Players such as Jakub Mensik and Casper Ruud struggled with physical discomfort due to the extreme heat at the French Open. The Norwegian ace thought about how Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz played through cramps in this year’s Australian Open, and this helped him get over the line.

Novak Djokovic questioned the heat protocol of the clay-court Major. At first, he thought Roland Garros didn’t have a heat rule, but was informed that the organizers take action when the wet bulb reaches 30.1 degrees celsius.

But then if you close one roof, then all of the others are playing. It’s not fair, also… Why would you close center court, and then everyone else has to be playing on the heat? I wouldn’t agree with that, even though, of course, for me it would be great if I play on center to have that roof closed on such a hot day.

Novak Djokovic said at the press conference

He suggested suspending matches during the day and playing late into the night during extreme conditions. Djokovic also thinks rescheduling of matches and taking longer breaks shouldn’t be an issue in a Grand Slam tournament.

Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final this year, played just one match on clay before arriving in Paris. He suffered an opening-round exit at the Italian Open.

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