Tennis From Paris • Seething Novak Djokovic Short On Answers As He Loses

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts as he plays Marco Cecchinato of Italy during their men’s quarter final match during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 05 June 2018. EPA-EFE/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

 

 

Novak Djokovic is so annoyed by crashing out of the Roland Garros quarterfinals, he’s undecided on his status for grass-court season.

 

Djokovic displayed pure class embracing Marco Cecchinato after the 72nd-ranked Italian shocked the 2016 champion 6-3, 7-6 (4), 1-6, 7-6 (11), but was angry in the aftermath.

 

The former world No. 1 fought valiantly, denying three match points before succumbing in the tie break to his sometime practice partner.

 

Still seething after a shattering loss, Djokovic offered brief answers in a terse post-match presser.

 

“I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m going to play on grass,” Djokovic said. “I don’t know if I’m going to play on grass.

 

“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I just came from the court. Sorry, guys, I can’t give you that answer. I cannot give you any answer.”

 

Palermo-born baseliner Cecchinato fought back from 1-4 down in the fourth set and staved off three set points in the tie break pulling off the biggest upset of his career.

 

It continues Cecchinato’s Cinderella run that includes upsets of 10th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta and eighth-seeded David Goffin.

 

All this from a man who arrived in Paris winless in his Grand Slam career.

 

Despite the devastating defeat, Djokovic showed grace with the post-match embrace and gave full credit to Cecchinato afterward.

 

“Well, it’s never been hard for me to congratulate and hug an opponent that just we shared a great moment on the court,” Djokovic said. “And the one that won deserved to win the match, and that was Marco today. I know him well. He’s a great guy.

 

“He deserved (to win). And that’s something everybody should do. On the other hand, when you walk off the court, of course, it’s a hard one to swallow.”