PARIS -- Novak Djokovic, a 12-time Grand Slam champion, was upset by unseeded Marco Cecchinato at the French Open on Tuesday.
The 72-ranked player won the first two sets 6-3, 7-6 (4), dropped the third 6-1 and then survived an epic tiebreaker in the fourth to win 7-6 (13).
Djokovic had his neck massaged during the opening set and called the trainer again after reducing his deficit, this time to receive treatment on his right leg.
Cecchinato received a penalty point immediately after Djokovic was treated, for "unsportsmanlike conduct." The Italian player was seen in a conversation with a tournament official but it was not clear why he was penalized.
Cecchinato was cleared of a match-fixing charge on a technicality in 2016,the year Djokovic won the last of his 12 majors at Roland Garros.
He survived Tuesday by returning a Djokovic serve with a backhand just inside the baseline and then collapsing onto the court. Djokovic had saved three match points in the fourth-set tiebreaker.
Cecchinato became the lowest-ranked semifinalist at Roland Garros since No. 100 Andrei Medvedev advanced to the last four back in 1999.
The 72-ranked player won the first two sets 6-3, 7-6 (4), dropped the third 6-1 and then survived an epic tiebreaker in the fourth to win 7-6 (13).
Djokovic had his neck massaged during the opening set and called the trainer again after reducing his deficit, this time to receive treatment on his right leg.
Cecchinato received a penalty point immediately after Djokovic was treated, for "unsportsmanlike conduct." The Italian player was seen in a conversation with a tournament official but it was not clear why he was penalized.
Cecchinato was cleared of a match-fixing charge on a technicality in 2016,the year Djokovic won the last of his 12 majors at Roland Garros.
He survived Tuesday by returning a Djokovic serve with a backhand just inside the baseline and then collapsing onto the court. Djokovic had saved three match points in the fourth-set tiebreaker.
Cecchinato became the lowest-ranked semifinalist at Roland Garros since No. 100 Andrei Medvedev advanced to the last four back in 1999.
