10/30/2020 4:50 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 10/30/2020 4:55 PM
Serbian Novak Djokovic, number one in the world ranking, was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 in Vienna, which is played on hard surfaces and distributes 1,550,950 euros in prizes, after being beaten this Friday by Italian Lorenzo Sonego, 42nd in the ranking, by an unappealable 6-2 and 6-1 in just 68 minutes of play.
This was only the second racket-in-hand loss for Djokovic this season, following that suffered by Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros final three weeks ago.
The Balkan had also lost, but by disqualification, at the US Open.
Djokovic had not fallen against a player so low in the ATP rankings for more than two years.
It was in 2018, when he lost in the Roland Garros quarter-finals to another Italian, Marco Cecchinato, who was then 72nd in the world.
Lorenzo Sonego, who had lost in qualifying, entered the main draw as a lucky loser and won the most important victory of his career in the Austrian capital.
“Novak is the best in the world.
This is incredible!
I have played the best game of my life ", celebrated the winner.
The loss prevented Djokovic from ensuring this week to finish the year as world number one for the sixth time in his career, an achievement only Pete Sampras achieved.
Lorenzo Sonego celebrates his victory against Novak Djokovic in Vienna.
(Photo: Christian Bruna / EFE / EPA)
Sonego will play in the semifinals against the winner of the last duel of the quarterfinals, which faces the British Daniel Evans (33rd) with the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (20th).
In another surprise this Friday, Russian Daniil Medvedev (6th) was defeated 6-4 and 7-6 (7-5) by veteran Kevin Anderson, who came to occupy fifth place in the planetary ladder and today is 111º.
In the semi-finals, the South African will face Russian Andrey Rublev (8th), who eliminated world number 3, Austrian Dominic Thiem, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
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