French Open 2018: Novak Djokovic stunned by Italian Marco Cecchinato in quarter-final

Cecchinato won the opening two sets and despite Djokovic rapidly claiming the third, he clinched a dramatic tie-break 13-11 in the fourth set to see off the 2016 Roland Garros champion

Novak Djokovic struggled to cope with his Italian opponent (Getty Images)

Marco Cecchinato had never won a match at a Grand Slam tournament before last week but the 25-year-old Italian continued his remarkable run here on Tuesday by beating Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-finals of the French Open.

The world No 72, who won 6-3, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, will be the lowest ranked man to play in the semi-finals at Roland Garros for 19 years. On Friday he will meet Austria’s Dominic Thiem, who beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

Djokovic, who had treatment on his right shoulder during the match, had appeared to be on course for a thrilling comeback victory when he won the third set and led 5-2 in the fourth, but Cecchinato, playing a level of tennis that belied his world ranking, went on to save three set points before winning the second tie-break 13-11.

In bizarre scenes afterwards Djokovic refused to move into the media centre’s main interview room for his post-match press conference and instead insisted on conducting it in one of the smaller rooms. Before cutting the conference short he told reporters that he was not sure whether he would play in the forthcoming grass-court season.

Cecchinato, who is the first Italian man to reach the last four of any Grand Slam event since Corrado Barazzutti did so here 40 years ago, had only ever played in four Grand Slam tournaments before arriving at Roland Garros last week – and had lost in the first round on each occasion.

When he beat Marius Copil in the first round, coming back from two sets down to win 10-8 in the final set, it was the first five-set match he had ever played. In the third round he beat Pablo Carreno Busta, the world No 11, and in the fourth he knocked out David Goffin, the world No 9.

Cecchinato is the lowest ranked Grand Slam semi-finalist anywhere since Marat Safin (world No 75) and Rainer Schuttler (world No 94) reached the last four at Wimbledon in 2008. He is the lowest ranked Roland Garros semi-finalist since Andrei Medvedev, the world No 100, made the last four here in 1999.

The statistics, nevertheless, could not do justice to the drama on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Both players received warnings for receiving coaching from the sidelines and Cecchinato was docked a point for leaving the court without the umpire’s permission at the end of the third set.

Combining well-timed ground strokes with stunning drop shots, Cecchinato was much the better player for most of the first two sets. He took the first in just 34 minutes and made an early break in the second before Djokovic made a match of it after having treatment on his shoulder when trailing 5-2. At 5-6 Cecchinato saved three set points and he won the tie-break after winning four points in a row from 3-4 down.

Djokovic, nevertheless, charged through the third set and led 5-2 in the fourth before Cecchinato fought back. The set went to another tie-break which was full of great drama. Djokovic saved three match points, the first of them with a wonderful volley after a breath-taking rally, while Cecchinato saved three set points. At 9-8 Djokovic wasted a wonderful opportunity when he shanked a forehand which should have been an easy winner.

At 11-11 Djokovic missed another forehand and on the following point the Serb tried to play serve-and-volley, only to leave Cecchinato’s backhand return down the line and then watch it land just inside the court.

The Italian fell on his back in celebration and could barely speak in his on-court interview after the match. “It’s amazing,” he kept saying. “Unbelievable.” He later described it as “the best moment of my life”.

Marco Cecchinato celebrates his surprise victory (Getty Images)

Djokovic, who had elbow surgery in January and had finally rediscovered some form here, said afterwards that he had struggled at the start of the match.

“Unfortunately it took me time to get well and I struggled with a little injury at the beginning,” he said. “After, when I warmed up, it was better.It was just a pity that I couldn’t capitalise on the chances at 4-1 in the fourth set and some break points that I thought I had in there. But he came back and credit to him.”

The Serb did not agree that it was the most painful defeat of his career but added: “Any defeat is difficult in the Grand Slams, especially the one that came after months of build-up. I thought I had a great chance to go at least a step further, but it wasn’t to be. That’s the way it is.”

Asked when he first planned to play on grass, Djokovic said: “I don’t know if I’m going to play on grass.” When asked to elaborate, he said: “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I just came from the court. Sorry, guys, I can’t give you that answer.”

Thiem reached his third successive French Open semi-final as Zverev’s exertions earlier in the tournament finally caught up with him. The 21-year-old German, who had reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time by winning three five-set matches in a row, struggled physically and never looked capable of repeating his victory over Thiem in Madrid last month.

Striking the ball with great power and consistency from the baseline, Thiem pulled Zverev from side to side and wore the German down with his relentless accuracy. Zverev had his left leg strapped in the second set but it was to no avail.

“He’s one of the fittest guys on tour, but even for him it was maybe a bit too tough to play three five-setters in the first rounds of a Slam,” Thiem said afterwards.“I expected that he would be a little bit tired, but still I’m happy how I finished the game. I let him run. I was doing what I had to do.”