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VIENNA: Novak Djokovic lost for the third time this year after a listless effort in the Erste Bank Open quarterfinals and left happily on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
The best classified, Djokovic, lost his first meeting with Italian Lorenzo Sonego, 42nd classified, 6-2, 6-1.
He lacked power in his groundstrokes and produced a series of errors. He fell 4-0 behind and won just five points on Sonego’s serve in the first set.
In the second, Djokovic missed all six break points before conceding his service game for the fifth time as Sonego closed the victory with a pass shot.
Despite losing to a lucky loser for the first time, Djokovic was very happy.
“I came here with the intention of trying to earn more points and secure No. 1 at the end of the year. I have, so I keep going, ”he said.
“I’m happy, I’m happy, I’m healthy, and I hope I can have a good finish (at the ATP Finals) in London.
“I have done what I had to do and why did I come here. I’m completely fine with today’s result. “
Djokovic is expected to overtake Rafael Nadal to be No. 1 again at the end of the year, but he could have done it by winning the Vienna final on indoor hard court on Sunday.
Instead, he was eager to travel to Serbia and not defend his title at the Paris Masters next week.
“I would call it a blessing, being a father and being a husband is the best thing in the world. I’m not far from home, so I’m looking forward to that, ”he said.
His only two previous losses this year were his disqualification in the US Open fourth round for hitting a linesman with a ball, and in the French Open final against Nadal.
Sonego lost in the final qualifying round to Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene, but was added as a lucky loser to the main draw after several players withdrew with injuries. He has not lost a set.
“It sure is the best victory of my life. Novak is the best in the world. I played very, very well today, ”Sonego said after his first win over a top 10 player.” It’s amazing. It’s amazing. “
The Italian also became the first lucky loser to beat the world No. 1 since 2017 when Jordan Thomson stunned Andy Murray in Queens.
“I don’t know if Djokovic didn’t play his best game, but for me this game is very important from my experience,” Sonego said. “Today is a game for my future.”
Sonego will play Daniel Evans for a spot in Sunday’s final. The 33rd-ranked Briton advanced to his second semi-final in two weeks and third of the season after beating Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3.
Additionally, Andrey Rublev reached the semi-finals, continuing his quest for a record fifth ATP title this season.
Fifth-seeded Rublev beat defending champion Dominic Thiem 7-6 (5), 6-2 to set up a semi-final against 2018 champion Kevin Anderson, who defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (5 ).
Rublev held on two break points early against Thiem and won a quick opening set in the tiebreaker.
The eighth-ranked Russian dominated second as Thiem was hampered by a blister on his right foot.
“I was lucky that Dominic had a foot problem. We had great battles in the past, ”Rublev said. He added that winning “two unrealistic rallies” in the tiebreaker turned the quarterfinals in his favor.
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