The 2026 French Open has been defined by chaos. Sinner gone in the second round. Fritz, Medvedev, Bublik, De Minaur, Shelton - all out before the tournament could even find its footing. But Thursday brought the kind of upset that genuinely stops people mid-scroll. Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, lost in five sets to 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca in the third round. The scoreline told one story. What happened in the crowd told another.
Who is Manu Noronha, the woman supporting Joao Fonseca's rise?
As Fonseca's profile continues to grow, Noronha has found herself attracting curiosity from fans eager to learn more about the young star's life away from the court. The couple's story stretches back years. They first met while studying at the Escola Americana in Rio de Janeiro, long before Fonseca emerged as one of tennis' most promising talents. While he eventually committed fully to a professional tennis career, Noronha pursued her own path, completing her education before enrolling at Fundacao Getulio Vargas to study marketing.
Alongside her studies, Noronha built a career in modeling. Signed with 40graus Models, one of Brazil's leading agencies, she has worked with brands including Maria Filo and Oh Boy. Fashion remains a major part of her professional identity, and she has previously spoken about enjoying the creative side of the industry and the connections it allows her to build. For a long time, the relationship remained largely private. Fans first began speculating in 2024 when Fonseca regularly left comments such as 'Linda!' and 'Muito gata!' on her social media posts. Confirmation arrived months later when the Brazilian acknowledged spending time in Rio with his 'family and girlfriend' during a break from competition.
How has Manu Noronha remained part of Joao Fonseca's journey despite staying out of the spotlight?
Unlike many partners of high-profile athletes, Noronha maintains a relatively low public profile. Even as interest around Fonseca has surged, she has largely stayed away from constant online attention. That made her social media activity on the day of the Djokovic victory particularly noticeable. While Fonseca was celebrating the biggest win of his young career, Noronha shared a modeling-related Instagram post featuring a series of photographs connected to a clothing brand collaboration. The timing naturally caught the attention of fans following the unfolding story in Paris.
Their relationship became widely recognized during the 2025 Laver Cup gala, where the pair made one of their most public appearances together. Since then, Noronha has continued to support Fonseca while largely avoiding the spotlight herself. Fonseca has never hidden the importance of that support. Reflecting on their relationship last year, he said: 'She's always been incredibly supportive. Having her around helps me stay grounded.' As the Brazilian teenager's remarkable French Open run continues, attention will remain fixed on his performances. Yet behind one of tennis' fastest-rising stars is a relationship that has quietly grown alongside his career, long before the rest of the sporting world took notice.
