Who remains in French Open contention after Sinner and Djokovic defeated?

PARIS (AP) — With two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz absent, Jannik Sinner was expected to capture his first French Open crown this year. Instead, the top-ranked Italian lost in the second round, leaving the men’s draw wide open.

Three-time champion Novak Djokovic was the most experienced contender left in the field, chasing a record 25th major title. But the 39-year-old Serb will have to wait until Wimbledon after losing a five-set thriller to 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca on Friday.

The result may not have been so surprising because Djokovic came into the tournament with questions over his form after losing to a Croatian qualifier at the Italian Open, his only clay-court warmup event after two months out with a right shoulder injury.

Here is a look at some of the favorites still in contention for the title:

He will likely think this is best chance of winning his first major title. The 2024 runner-up to Alcaraz has also advanced to three semifinals and another quarterfinal in Paris. The 29-year-old German is in excellent form after reaching the final in Madrid and the semifinals in Monte Carlo and Munich. The second-seeded Zverev advanced to the fourth round with a four-set win late Friday over Frenchman Quentin Halys.

At No. 4, the Canadian is the highest seed left in the top half of the draw and will take on Brandon Nakashima in the third round. Auger-Aliassime was two points away from defeat in the first round before rallying past Daniel Altmaier in five sets. He then got past Roman Andres Burruchaga in four sets. Auger-Aliassime’s best result at Roland Garros was the fourth round in 2022 and 2024.

He is the latest tennis sensation from Spain. The 19-year-old Jodar is into the fourth round at a major for the first time after his five-set win over Alex Michelsen. Jodar claimed his first ATP title in Marrakech last month then made it to the semifinals in Barcelona and the quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome. His tour-level record on clay is 18-3. By comparison, 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal and Alcaraz both went 13-7 through their first 20 tour-level matches on clay.

Can the French teenager create a major surprise and emulate Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win at Roland Garros in 1983? Kouame reached the third round after a five-set, five-hour thriller that delighted the French crowd. The No. 318-ranked player next faces Chilean Alejandro Tabilo. Kouame beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the first round, becoming the first man born in 2008 or later to win a Grand Slam match.

Ruud lost the 2022 final to Nadal and the 2023 final to Djokovic. The Norwegian has struggled in the Paris heat this week and needed five sets to prevail in the first round. Ruud also recovered from the loss of the opening two sets against Tommy Paul to reach the the fourth round.

He has to be added to the list after a brilliant comeback win against arguably the best men’s player of all time. Fonseca became the first teenager to defeat the Serbian at a Grand Slam event. He is into the fourth round at a major for the first time.

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Joao Fonseca of Brazil reacts as he plays against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their third round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates after winning the second round men's singles tennis match against Roman Andres Burruchaga of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Moise Kouame of France reacts as he plays against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay during their second round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

Alexander Zverev of Germany returns to Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic during their second round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning against Valentin Royer of France during their second round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A dogged Lions side that led for more than an hour was pipped by New Zealand 41-35 at Ellis Park on Tuesday.

The All Blacks swept all four provincial teams to remain undefeated on their tour of South Africa, but they were given a serious scare in an entertaining 12-try contest.

New Zealand had only three players backing up from last Saturday's test victory over South Africa on the same ground and involved all six injury replacements summoned on tour — including two players who arrived on Monday — plus a debut for prop Saula Ma'u.

Their defense struggled and missed 19 tackles. They trailed 14-0 after seven minutes, were still behind at halftime and down 35-17 in the 47th. The Lions threatened to become the first South African provincial side to beat New Zealand since Orange Free State, now known as the Cheetahs, in 1976.

But like the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls the All Blacks had already beaten, the Lions were out of season and not match fit. They hadn't played since May 30 in the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals.

The All Blacks stormed back in the last half-hour with four successive tries; two by Rieko Ioane, a second for flanker Ethan Blackadder that gave them the lead for the first time in the 62nd, and a second by winger Emoni Narawa in the 79th that finally settled the tourists' nerves.

“The Lions came out hissing,” Blackadder said. “But we stayed composed and found a way in the end. They were quality tonight.”

Blackadder — whose father Todd was on the last traditional tour in 1996 — was one of the New Zealand standouts along with inside center Timoci Tavatavanawai, Narawa, and flyhalf Richie Mo'unga, back from Japan and in a black jersey for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie thought Blackadder was phenomenal: “He's got a massive engine and was everywhere. He picked up some plums (tries) as well.”

Mo'unga, like New Zealand, got better as the game got older, but he and Beauden Barrett could convert only three of their seven tries. On the other hand, Chris Smith, at home, converted all five of the Lions tries and hit the post with a long penalty.

Early pressure by Lions long-time captain Francke Horn resulted in a dummy and try by scrumhalf Nico Steyn, who has been in the Springboks camp.

Moments later, All Blacks scrumhalf Noah Hotham was intercepted by Siba Mahashe who ran in untouched. Mahashe was only 22 and carrying hype. The recent Junior Bok was wanted by the Blitzbok sevens and regarded as a Bob Skinstad type. He was the player of the match.

Narawa laid off a try for Hotham and finished one that started from a mark by Mo'unga in his 22.

But the Lions shot further ahead again through winger Kelly Mpeku.

Wonderful handling by New Zealand produced a try for Blackadder but one for winger Fehi Fineanganofo on halftime was ruled out by a forward pass.

Rennie's halftime message to New Zealand was to throw the first punch in the second half. But the Lions did, again.

After 42 seconds, winger Erich Cronjé started and finished a Lions try, then captain Horn scored from a pushover try as the All Blacks scrum creaked again. It stopped jarring after the front row was replaced by Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Bradley Slater and Ma’u.

The Lions' preseason conditioning fell away and the All Blacks were ruthless. Against the four provinces they have owned the last quarter when they have scored 12 of their total 29 tries.

The second test is on Saturday in Cape Town.

The Springboks cleared Siya Kolisi to play after a grade-two hamstring tear on Aug. 8 against Argentina. He will also captain them. Paul de Villiers dropped out of the matchday 23.

See AP’s full rugby coverage here

New Zealand's Ofa Tu'ungafasi, right, breaks away from Lions' Siba Mahashe during an international friendly rugby match between the Lions and New Zealand in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

New Zealand's Noah Hotham scores a try during an international friendly rugby match between Lions and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

New Zealand's Ethan Blackadder scores a try during an international friendly rugby match between Lions and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

New Zealand's Emoni Narawa, front, is challenged by Lions' Nico Steyn during an international friendly rugby match between Lions and New Zealand, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)