Djokovic into quarter-finals
Two years after being found guilty of match-fixing, unheralded Italian Marco Cecchinato will stare down Novak Djokovic on one of tennis’ grandest stages after continuing his unlikely French Open run.
Cecchinato, ranked 72nd in the world, ground down Belgian seventh seed David Goffin 7-5 4-6 6-0
6-3 to qualify for his first grand slam quarterfinal in Paris.
The 25-year-old’s victory follows his third-round elimination of US Open semifinalist Pablo Carreno Busta after he only passed the opening round 10-8 in the fifth against Marius Copil.
‘‘It’s a dream. I’m really, really happy. It’s unbelievable,’’ Cecchinato said.
The Sicilian had never previously progressed beyond the first round at a slam and might never had received another chance had the Italian Olympic Committee not overturned an
18-month ban because of irregularities regarding how match-fixing evidence against him was gathered.
While familiar with the Serb, Cecchinato will be playing Djokovic for the first time after the revitalised former champion charged into a record 12th quarterfinal in Paris with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 fourth-round dispatch of Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco.
Seeded 20th after a welldocumented slump, Djokovic won’t be taking Cecchinato lightly.
‘‘I have known of him for many years. I have practised with him many times in Monte Carlo,’’ Djokovic said.
‘‘He trained a lot where I reside, where I live. We trained a lot on hard court, clay courts and we actually trained this year. I know now his game.’’
Djokovic doesn’t seem to hold Roland Garros officials in such high regard, the superstar former world No 1 not happy about the slippery state of the centre court that 10-times champion Rafael
Nadal has also complained about.
‘‘‘What I don’t like is that there is no participation of the players. We are the ones who are playing and sliding and not sliding, so we can give them the most important feedback. But it doesn’t seem like they care too much about our opinion, and that’s something I don’t like,’’ Djokovic said.
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev reached his first grand slam quarterfinal the hard way, beating Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-6 (4) 2-6 6-3 6-3 for his third straight comeback win in five sets at the tournament.
He will meet seventh-seed Dominic Thiem, who has played three straight four-setters, including beating Kei Nishikori, of Japan, 6-2 6-0 5-7 6-4.
In women’s play, 13th-seeded American Madison Keys reached the quarterfinals for the first time at Roland Garros after beating No 31 Mihaela Buzarnescu, of Romania, 6-1 6-4.
Keys next faces unseeded Yulia Putintseva, of Kazakhstan, who beat 26th-seeded Czech Barbora Strycova 6-4 6-3.
Sloane Stephens, the 10th seed, also reached the last eight in Paris for the first time, beating No 25 Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, 6-2 6-0.
Stephens next plays either Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki – seeded second – or 14th-seeded Russian Daria Kasatkina.
Their match was suspended for bad light with the second set tied at 3-3 after Kasatkina won the opening set 7-6 (5).