French Open 2026: Fonseca and Jodar scripts history, join the list of Agassi, Alcaraz with maiden quarter-finals berth

The teenage takeover at the French Open 2026 continued as Joao Fonseca and Rafeal Jodar both reached the quarter-finals in Paris on Sunday. At 19 years old, Fonseca and Jodar, who are into their maiden Grand Slam quarter-finals, have achieved a milestone along the way.They have become just the fifth teenage duo to reach the men's singles quarter-finals at a Major in the past 42 years, and only the second such pairing to accomplish the feat in the 21st century. The last time two teenagers stood together in a Grand Slam quarter-final was in 2022, when Carlos Alcaraz, now a six-time major champion and Holger Rune reached the last eight in Roland Garros.Fonseca and Jodar have now joined an elite list of tennis legends that includes Andre Agassi (achieved the feat in 1988 along with Perez-Roldan), Michael Chang and Goran Ivanisevic (1990) by achieving this feat. The last time it happened outside of Roland Garros was way back at the 1984 Australian Open, featuring legends Boris Becker, Pat Cash, and Stefan Edberg in the quarter-finals.Fonseca, who ended the hopes of Novak Djokovic’s 25th major slam two days earlier, has defeated three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud in the fourth round. The young Brazilian displayed his powerful forehands on Court Philippe Chatrier and overcame the Norwegian by a score of 7-5, 7-6(8), 5-7, 6-2. He became only the fourth Brazilian man in the open era to reach the last eight at Roland Garros after Thomaz Koch, Fernando Meligeni and three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten, who was watching from the stands in Paris.While Spanish young gun Rafeal Jodar produced a stunning comeback against his countrymen Pablo Carreno Busta. Jodar, who has been in sensational form on clay this season defeated the veteran Spaniard by a scoreline of 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. The Madrid youngster was ranked 707th a year ago and 165th at the start of the year and now the 27th seed will face hot-favorite and 2nd seed Alexander Zverev for a place in the semi finals. Zverev is looking to secure his first ever major after the early exits of World No.1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.For Fonseca, another youngster Jakub Mensik awaits him in the last eight. The Czech continues his run in Paris by doing things the hard way, this time seeing off Russian Andrey Rublev by a score of 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 in the latest five-setter at this most gruelling of tournaments.