In one of the most surprising grand slam semi-finals in recent memory, Marco Cecchinato will play the biggest match of his career so far against red-hot favourite Dominic Thiem at the French Open. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9pm (AEST).
Cecchinato has come from the unknown, knocking over big-name players in upset after upset to make his first grand slam semi-final, easily the best result of his career.
The 25-year-old, who is ranked outside the top 70 in the world (although won’t be come the next rankings update on Monday) barely made it out of the first round, needing a 10-8 final set to get past Marius Copil in a grinding match.
That match would have taken it out of the Italian, but he has shown no adverse effects across the rest of the tournament, beating the lucky loser with the greatest story in tennis, Marco Trungelliti in straight sets, before going past three seeded opponents.
First it was Pablo Carreno Busta, then David Goffin and in the quarter-finals, a four-set win over former world No.1 Novak Djokovic. He has played four sets in each of those matches, but stayed calm, composed and more importantly, in front of the match at all times.
Given his lead-up form, the run has come from nowhere, but he now has his toughest match against Thiem, who was always expected to make the final.
It’s exactly how Thiem has played at Roland Garros as well. The powerful Austrian has swaggered around like he owns the place (of course, that belongs to Rafael Nadal), but he has dropped just three sets and blasted Alexander Zverev out of the tournament in a straight-set beatdown during his quarter-final.
Given he was also convincing against Kei Nishikori, he will be well prepared for this match, having played seven sets of high-quality tennis against strong opponents.
Thiem will want to blast through this one though, knowing a physical grind awaits him in the final, likely against Rafael Nadal. The longer he is stuck on the court, the less chance he has of pulling off the upset in the final.
Prediction
This will be the end of the line for Cecchinato. It’s been a great run through the tournament, but the chance of being able to hang with Thiem on a stage like this is slim to none.
Thiem in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first men’s semi-final at the French Open from 9pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Good on both players. I expect Cecchinato will have a good Wimbledon; potentially seeded. I thought that losing the second set after such a long tiebreak would take the wind out of his sails, and it pretty much did. He can hold his head up high for sure. As for Thiem, well, congratulations to him. He thoroughly deserves his first grand slam final, and I reckon he’ll enjoy the challenge of either Nadal or Del Potro.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me for the first semi-final. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We will be live with the second semi-final between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro in a moment, so be sure to join me for that. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dominic Thiem will play the winner of Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro on Sunday in the final.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, DOMINIC THIEM Well, as he has done all day, Marco Cecchinato defends like his life depends on it. Kept a few extra shots in there, but he can't hang on with Thiem opening up the court and smashing a forehand away for the winner and a spot in tomorrow's final. Thiem was pushed hard here for two sets, but then ran away with it after winning a tie breaker 12-10 in the second set. Great tournament from Cecchinato. He will fly up into the top 30 in the world and probably be seeded at Wimbledon. Amazing effort. Marco Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 Dominic Thiem .........7 7 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve from Thiem. Cecchinato returns the forehand long and we now have a match point for Dominic Thiem! Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - AD
Scott Pryde
Expert
Still one break point exists here. Cecchinato squanders it though, putting a backhand return from out wide into the net. Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Thiem. The second is returned on a backhand. Cecchinato stays with the point from side to side, but eventually can't answer an overhead. Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - 40 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great defence from Cecchinato. He stays alive in the point, then plays a backhand slice which gets Thiem down low to the court. He can't get enough elevation on his shot to stay alive. Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - 40 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's a superb shot from Thiem. He went sideline to sideline, then ripped a backhand right into the corner of the court. No getting to that for Cecchinato. Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - 30 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thiem with a wide serve, then some big forehands, but great depth on the defence from the Italian as Thiem puts a backhand into the net. Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - 30 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thiem to serve. Starts with a fault, then goes out wide. Good forehand return and Thiem has to defend before ripping a forehand back across his body wide. Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - 15 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thiem sends a backhand wide and Cecchinato will hold serve to get on the board in the final set. Thiem will be forced to serve this out for a place in the final. Cecchinato .... 5 6 1 - Thiem ........... 7 7 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Cecchinato catches the centre service line this time, going right up the T from well wide of the centre of the court. Cecchinato .... 5 6 0 - 40 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cecchinato with a good serve up the T and Thiem can't return. Cecchinato .... 5 6 0 - 30 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
The first two points split as Cecchinato serves to keep the match going here. Cecchinato .... 5 6 0 - 15 Thiem ........... 7 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thiem with a wide serve and Cecchinato returns it long on the backhand. This is just about over. One game needed for Thiem, who has won five games in 15 minutes. Cecchinato .... 5 6 0 - Thiem ........... 7 7 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Excellent serving from Thiem. Cecchinato is looking tired here as well. He got up to the net, but then put an overhead into the net. Cecchinato .... 5 6 0 - 30 Thiem ........... 7 7 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Down the T from Thiem. Great serving that. Cecchinato .... 5 6 0 - 30 Thiem ........... 7 7 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cecchinato returns serve out now. Cecchinato .... 5 6 0 - 30 Thiem ........... 7 7 4 - 15