FRENCH OPEN
Marco Cecchinato’s victory shocks Djokovic at French Open
Paris — Marco Cecchinato beat former champion and 12-time Major winner Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6(4) 1-6 7-6(11) at the French Open on Tuesday to become the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in 40 years. Cecchinato cruised through the opening set as Djokovic was suffering from neck pain before the Serbian fought back after the loss of the second. His opponent, however, was the stronger in an epic fourth-set tiebreak, prevailing on his fourth match point. The last Italian man to take part in a Major semifinal was Corrado Barazzutti at the 1978 French Open.
The unseeded Cecchinato, who broke down in tears after the match, next faces Austrian Dominic Thiem for a place in Sunday’s final. Thiem beat Alexander Zverev who could not hide his frustration at an injury that hampered him. World No3 Zverev had battled through three consecutive five-setters on his way to the last eight, but his body failed him against claycourt specialist Thiem. After six opening games were shar...
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