Novak Djokovic (20) was expected to have few troubles in his 2018 Roland Garros quarter final against Marco Cecchinato.
However he was broken in the opening set and served at 2-5.
An awesome backhand winner from Marco wasn’t enough to prevent Djokovic holding for 3-5, but the 2016 champion was suffering from injury to his neck and shoulder.
Cecchinato ran to a drop shot and made it into a winner for 30-0.
Two set points came the way of Marco and he only needed one, taking the set with an ace 6-3. 12 winners to 3 for Marco
Set two began with a stunning drop shot from the Italian for 15-30 on the Djokovic serve. Then a backhand wide and two break points.
One saved with a good serve. The break came with a long Serbian backhand.
1-0 Cecchinato
Game to Cecchinato highlighted by a winning drop shot, and finally a forehand winner for 2-0.
Novak struggled but managed to hold and trail 1-2
Three break points for Djokovic and he broke on the first for 2-2
Djokovic now playing more like the player we know and he won ten points in succession to lead 3-2.
A backhand winner and a forehand put away for Cecchinato 30-0. Three game points after Djokovic netted one. Djokovic backhand winner at the net insufficient and 3-3.
Backhand Cecchinato sizzler and Djokovic 0-30. Ace 15-30
Two break points following a brilliant rally and drop shot Italian winner
One saved with Djokovic overhead forehand winner. The second saved with a return error.
Djokovic held for 4-3
A drop shot-lob-volley combination and a forehand winner were standouts in a service game from Cecchinato 4-4.
Djokovic held to 15 and led 5-4
Cecchinato held serve on his second game point - the stop volley winner the highlight and sportingly acknowledged by Djokovic -
5-5
The set went to a tie break where Novak led 4-3 and had two serves to come. Sadly for him Cecchinato won those and the next two for the set.
The Italian led the match 6-3 7-6(4) and Djokovic was in deep trouble.
It was a tremendous set of tennis and credit must be given to Cecchinato. He simply was too good for Djokovic, whose standard was also high.
On Philippe-Chatrier court Sloane Stephens (10) had smashed Daria Kasatkina (14) 6-3 6-1 in their quarter final to set up an all US semi final with Madison Keys.
This will be a reminder of the 2017 US Open final where Stephens easily defeated Keys for the title.
The form of both girls in Paris this year has been phenomenal.
Stephens has lost just one set - to Camila Giorgi in the third round - and lost just 25 games, winning 62
Keys has not lost a set and only lost 33 games, also winning 62
Sloane has moved to a career high ranking of six and if she wins the semi will go to four. Madison has moved back into the top ten at 10 and will pass Venus Williams to number 9 if she wins the semi. Angie Kerber can change these positions depending on her progress.
Djokovic and Cecchinato were struggling to hold serve in set three, and Novak led 2-1 after three breaks.
The first hold saw Djokovic lead 3-1.
Drop shot magic saved a break point for Cecchinato, but two backhand winners from the Serb racquet secured the third break this set for Djokovic and he extended the advantage to 4-1.
Two love games for the champ and the set was his 6-1 with the advantage of serving first in the fourth.
Cecchinato appeared to have lost his way in the third set after a magnificent showing up to that point.
Djokovic had stepped up his delivery beyond what Cecchinato could counter and the run of games continued now to 7 with Novak leading 2-0.
Winners now starting to flow from the Djokovic racquet allowed him to consolidate the break and lead 3-0.
An ace and a pair of ground stroke winners allowed Cecchinato to post a score on the board but he still trailed 1-3.
A special Cecchinato backhand didn’t stop the Serbian progress which was to move on to 4-1.
Cecchinato saved three break points and won the game with an ace to stay in touch 2-4.
An ace and two identical forehand put aways made for an easy service hold for Djokovic - 5-2
An easy hold from Cecchinato and Djokovic had to serve for the set at 5-3.
Djokovic was surprisingly broken, the winning point for Cecchinato a forehand winner - 4-5 for the Italian.
A service hold and 5-5.
Suddenly Djokovic was under pressure to stay in the match.
In an epic tie break several match points and set points were saved before finally Cecchinato clinched it 13-11.
An amazing performance from Marco, after having appeared to lose the plot. 3-5 down in the fourth set, Marco Cecchinato rose again to eliminate Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6(4) 1-6 7-6(11)
He will meet Dominic Thiem (7) in the semis, and will rise in the rankings to a live position of 27, remembering he began the tournament ranked 72.
If he defeats Thiem, and that is a monumental task, he would reach 18.
An interesting fact - Stan Wawrinka, last years runner up, by losing in the first round, has dropped in the rankings from 30 to 260.
Luckily, he has only 10 points to defend for the remainder of 2018, but it is shocking to think he has dropped so far. Injury can rock things quickly as Andy Murray can attest, sitting now at 157 with just 360 points.
Those came from his quarter final appearance at Wimbledon last year and he will lose those in a few weeks, leaving him off the ranking charts all together.
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