Cecchinato becomes the first Italian man in 40 years to reach a Grand Slam semifinal (Corrado Barazzutti) and the lowest-ranked Grand Slam semifinalist since 2008 Wimbledon.Giant Killer!
Marco Cecchinato takes out former champion Djokovic in a blockbuster match 6-3 7-6(4) 1-6 7-6(11).#RG18 pic.twitter.com/lNCX6BPves — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2018
After dropping the first two sets, Djokovic won the third set against Cecchinato and then looked like he might force a decisive fifth. But Cecchinato came back from two breaks down in the fourth (1-4) to force the tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Djokovic saved three match points, including one on a 17-stroke rally.“Am I dreaming? Maybe I’m sleeping? I don’t understand nothing.”
– Cecchinato#RG18 pic.twitter.com/OMypEwXLAI — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2018
Cecchinato then prevailed on his fourth match point. “In the tiebreak I was maybe two or three match points before the last one and in the fifth I don’t know,” he said. “I was so tired. But I won the match and it’s amazing.” Cecchinato will now have two full days off before the semifinals on Friday. Going forward, Djokovic told reporters he may not play at Wimbledon. He has now played eight majors since he last won one at the 2016 French Open. “I don’t know if I’m going to play on the grass,” he told reporters. Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter And Like ZAGS on FacebookDjokovic saves a match point on a 17-shot rally pic.twitter.com/MifEaWSoUz
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 5, 2018