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Marco Cecchinato beats Novak Djokovic, becomes first Italian in 40 years to reach a Grand Slam semi-final

Corrado Barazzutti was the last Italian to make it this far during the 1978 French Open

Prabhjeet Sethi @SinghOfGudTimes 6 June 2018, 1:16 PM

Marco Cecchinato after beating Novak Djokovic Image: AFP

Italians finally have something to cheer about.

After failing to qualify for the upcoming football World Cup in Russia, Italy has finally made its presence felt in another sporting platform – the French Open.

Thanks to Marco Cecchinato, the 25-year-old Italian who beat Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the Roland Garros to cruise into the semi-finals. With this feat, he also became the first Italian in 40 years to enter a Grand Slam's semi-final stage.

The last Italian to make it this far was Corrado Barazzutti during the 1978 French Open.

Cecchinato, who faces Austria’s Dominic Thiem on Sunday, said, “Maybe I’m sleeping. It’s amazing, it’s unbelievable for me. I’m very happy because it’s unbelievable to beat Novak Djokovic in a quarter-final at Roland Garros. It’s amazing.”

Djokovic, who has been grappling with fitness issues for quite some time, said that he might give Wimbledon 2018 a miss. “I don’t know if I am going to play on grass,” he said soon after the match.

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