Dotting the dirt with one final backhand blast, Marco Cecchinato fell flat on his back in celebration of a most unlikely Grand Slam splash.
A spirited Cecchinato isn't just embracing this Roland Garros, he's immersed in it.
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The 72nd-ranked Italian continued his inspired run toppling eighth-seeded David Goffin, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, with a dynamic fourth-round triumph.
"For me, it's a dream," Cecchinato said. "I am very, very happy."
Arriving in Paris without a single major match win to his credit, Cecchinato has rocketed into the Roland Garros quarterfinals in just his fifth Grand Slam appearance.
Cecchinato will face former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic with a semifinal spot on the line.
The 2016 French Open champion breezed by Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to qualify for a record 12th Roland Garros quarterfinal.
Weeks after Cecchinato took the opening set from the Belgian Davis Cup hero before bowing 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, in Rome, he controlled the center of the court in critical stages today.
In contrast, Goffin looked depleted and pained. You can understand why the slender Belgian was strained.
Goffin fought off four match points sparking a 6-7 (6), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 comeback win over acrobatic Frenchman Gael Monfils yesterday after rallying from two sets down to defeat Robin Haase in round two.
The spirit was willing, but Goffin's body was ailing.
Swinging with ambition, Cecchinato cracked 34 winners and converted six of 18 break-point chances in a two hour, 31-minute win.
Jolting a backhand winner down the line on match point, Cecchinato crashed to the court in celebration of his first career Top 10 victory and second straight win over a Top 15-ranked player. That came in round three when Cecchinato dismissed 11th-ranked Pablo Carreno Busta, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-1.
The Palermo-born baseliner is the lowest-ranked man to reach the French Open quarterfinals since No. 80 Ernests Gulbis in 2008. Cecchinato is the ninth Italian man in the Open Era to reach a major quarterfinal.
Fabio Fognini faces Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic in tomorrow's fourth round. Should the No. 18-seeded Italian prevail, it would give Italy two men's Grand Slam quarterfinalists for the first time since the 1973 Roland Garros, when Paolo Bertolucci and Adriano Panatta reached that stage.
Goffin took treatment for a right elbow injury and later left the court after being shutout in the third set.
Facing break point in the eighth game of the fourth set, Goffin tried targeting the Italian's sweeping one-handed backhand.
Cecchinato made him pay slashing his one-hander down the line breaking again for 5-3.
The Belgian sailed a backhand beyond the baseline bring match point after two hours, 31 minutes.
Cecchinato stepped in and blasted one final backhand down the line to close the biggest win of his career.
It's been a breakthrough season for Cecchinator, who started the season ranked No. 109. As a lucky loser he burst through the field capturing his first career ATP title in Budapest in April.
Now, he'll try to extend his roll in his first meeting with Djokovic, whose last Grand Slam title came in Paris two years ago.
Photo credit: @Roland Garros