Sports
Filip Misolic Stuns Shapovalov in Five Set Thriller to Set Up Dream Match Against Djokovic
The 23-year-old qualifier from Austria pulls off the biggest win of his career at Roland Garros and earns a third-round showdown with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic
In a match that tested not only endurance but heart, Filip Misolic, the 153rd-ranked underdog from Austria, delivered the performance of his life at the French Open by defeating Denis Shapovalov in a nail-biting five-set battle. The final score read 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 4-6, 4-6, 6-3—an instant classic that etched Misolic’s name into Grand Slam history as he reached the third round of a major tournament for the first time ever.
A center-stage duel with none other than Novak Djokovic, the Serbian legend and 24-time Grand Slam winner, who breezed past local favorite Corentin Moutet in straight sets earlier that day.
For Misolic, this was more than just a win—it was a breakthrough. “There’s so much going through my head right now, I can’t even process it. I’m just incredibly happy,” the 23-year-old said courtside, moments after converting his second match point in a grueling four-hour-and-eighteen-minute showdown.
It was a rollercoaster from the start. After dropping the opening games and falling behind 0-2, Misolic regrouped quickly, breaking back and showing rare composure in two tense tiebreaks that gave him a two-set lead. While Shapovalov—once ranked inside the world’s top 10—unraveled emotionally, arguing with fans and officials, Misolic stayed ice-cold.
The third and fourth sets tilted toward the Canadian, who unleashed a more aggressive game to draw level at two sets apiece. By then, most would’ve bet on the experienced Shapovalov to prevail in the decider. But Misolic had other plans.
Drawing on every ounce of grit, he broke serve early in the fifth set and never looked back. Shapovalov’s frustration boiled over as the Austrian fended off two break points before sealing the match with fearless baseline play and a final, crowd-lifting roar.
“I just told myself to give everything in the fifth set—whether it worked or not, I wanted to walk off the court with no regrets,” Misolic said, his voice shaking with emotion.
With this win, Misolic not only earns €168,000 in prize money but also the rare chance to face Djokovic at one of tennis’s most prestigious venues. “To play Novak… I can’t believe it. I have to rest, regroup, and prepare for something I’ve dreamed of my whole life.”
Djokovic, meanwhile, showed his trademark precision in dispatching Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1), and heads into the third round without having dropped a set.
Can the rising Austrian star challenge the Serbian titan? One thing is certain: Misolic has already won the hearts of fans and proven that dreams, no matter how unlikely, can survive even five-set marathons.