By Chris Oddo | Tuesday June 5, 2018
Marco Cecchinato stunned Novak Djokovic on four sets to become the first Italian Man to reach the semifinals of a major since 1978.
Photo Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Marco Cecchinato has stunned the tennis world—again. Two days after knocking off No.8-seeded David Goffin the World No.72 knocked off Novak Djokovic 6-3, 7-6(4), 1-6, 7-6(11) to become the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since 1978.
More #RG18: Thiem Topples Zverev | Lucky Let Podcast | All-American SF Set | Keys to Victory
"Maybe I’m sleeping," he told Cedric Pioline in an interview on Court Suzanne-Lenglen after the match. "It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable for me. For me, to beat Djokovic in a quarter-final at Roland Garros it’s unbelievable."
There aren’t many who would argue—the 25-year-old Italian, who will face Dominic Thiem of Austria in the semifinals on Friday, had never won a main draw match at a major before.
An intriguing talent that has blossomed this season, winning his first title at Budapest, Cecchinato has also known his share of difficulties. Famously, he was banned for 18-months by the ITF for match fixing in 2016 but later had his appeal accepted and the ban overturned.
With turmoil in the rearview, Cecchinato has found something extraordinary in Paris that has taken him on one of the more improbable runs in Roland Garros history. He defeated Marius Copil 10-8 in the fifth in his opening round (coming back from two sets down), then ended the road warrior story of Marco Trungelliti in the second round—but by then was just getting started.
In his last three rounds, Cecchinato has defeated No.10-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta, No.8-seeded Goffin, and now 20th-seeded Djokovic.
Djokovic, meanwhile had begun to build his form since Rome and entered today’s quarterfinal having won eight of nine matches on the clay. The Serb was challenged physically in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal since Wimbledon last year, and he struggled with neck stiffness in the first set. Though he appeared to loosen up in set two, Djokovic failed to convert three set points against the in-form Italian in the 12th game and then dropped a tiebreaker to fall into a two sets to love hole.
The third set went Djokovic’s way without any difficulties. The 2016 Roland Garros champion broke four times, boxed it up quickly and then quickly raced ahead by a break in the fourth set. But momentum shifted when Djokovic couldn’t convert a break point for 5-1 in the fourth set and soon enough it was Cecchinato knocking on the door and busting through with a break back and hold for five-all.
In the next game Djokovic showed his toughness by saving a break point to hold for 6-5 and moments later an epic tiebreak began.
Cecchinato took a 3-0 lead, and despite a strong push from the Serb, found himself with his first match point at 6-5. Djokovic saved it with an incredible backhand volley at the end of a long rally, and proceeded to earn three set points, none more regrettable than the third when he shanked a mid-court forehand into the crowd that left him on his knees in anguish.
It would be Djokovic’s final set point. He fought brilliantly to save two more match points, showing the old crunch-time bristle that the 12-time Grand Slam champion had made his calling card in his heyday, but Cecchinato floated a return past the Serb as he charged the net for a clean winner on the next.
The Italian sank to the clay and showed the fragility of his emotions as the crowd roared. He seemed in disbelief and Djokovic crossed the net to congratulate him.
It has been a long time since Italy has seen one of its men make magic at the majors. Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi have concocted some of the bigger upsets of the last ten years on the Grand Slam stage but neither could push through to the last four of a Slam.
Enter Marco Cecchinato, an unlikely hero in so many ways. The Palermo native's future is not easy to predict, but on Friday the eyes of his nation will be upon him as he bids to become Italy’s first male Grand Slam finalist since 1976. Whether he comes up short or not, Cecchinato will always have the story to tell of the day he beat Novak Djokovic on Court Suzanne-Lenglen as the crowd went wild.