Italian novice stuns Novak
A TEARFUL Marco Cecchinato came from nowhere last night to turf Novak Djokovic out and reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros in one of the greatest upsets in French Open history.
The 25-year-old from Palermo in Sicily – who had never won a Grand Slam match before this year’s tournament – almost blew a two-set lead before sealing a 6-3, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 victory over the former world No1 in an epic tiebreak. He needed four match points before winning the decider 13-11 in the contest of the tournament so far.
The Italian, who has rebuilt his career since being cleared of matchfixing two years ago, played some superb tennis to out-punch Djokovic and become the first men’s player from his country to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since 1978.
An emotional Cecchinato, the world No72, said: “Are you sure I won? Maybe I am sleeping. It’s amazing. I am very happy because it is unbelievable to beat Novak Djokovic in a quarter-final at Roland Garros.”
The fiery character was docked a point for unsportsmanlike conduct when he walked off the court during a game, and was also warned for coaching – as was Djokovic – but regained his focus to play some glorious drop-shots and serve superbly.
Djokovic twice had treatment for a neck problem and once for a calf injury, and fought valiantly, but the 2016 champion had no answer to his rival’s power. Cecchinato stormed the first set and edged the second before the Serb fought back to take the third. Djokovic was actually 5-2 up in the fourth set – and crucially fluffed three set points – before the Italian clinched the epic.
German Alexander Zverev’s Roland Garros came to an end when he lost 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 to seventh seed Dominic Thiem, who will now face Cecchinato.
Madison Keys beat Yulia Putintseva 7-6, 6-4 to set up an all-American women’s semi-final against Sloane Stephens, who overcame Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1.