Marco Cecchinato cracked an ace punctuating a declarative upset with an exclamation point.
A free-flowing Cecchinato continued his Cinderella run in Paris overwhelming 10th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-1, to charge into his first career Grand Slam round of 16.
Fognini: I Don't Understand This Next Gen Thing
Winless in four prior career major appearances, Cecchinato scored his career-best win to reach a fourth-round clash vs. either eighth-seeded David Goffin or 32nd-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Hammering his heavy forehand into the corners, Cecchinato spent much of the match hitting the US Open semifinalist off the court. The world No. 72 hit through the slow court on soggy day. Cecchinato cranked a crosscourt forehand breaking again to burst out to a 5-1 lead just 23 minutes into the fourth set.
Cecchinato closed a two hour, 19-minute victory with his fourth ace.
The 25-year-old Palermo-born baseliner started the season ranked No. 109. As a lucky loser he burst through the field capturing his first career ATP title in Budapest in April. He is projected to approach the Top 50 with his third-round result in Paris.
Photo credit: Getty Images