[ad_1]
VIENNA • Novak Djokovic has admitted that he was “kicked off the pitch” after his biggest loss in a three-set match on Friday, when he was eliminated from the ATP tournament in Vienna by lucky underdog Lorenzo Sonego.
The Italian, who is ranked 42nd and initially lost in the rankings last weekend, is the first lucky loser to beat world No. 1 tennis.
His stunning 6-2, 6-1 quarter-final was a marker the 33-year-old Djokovic would quickly want to forget. The only other time he won just three games was at the 2005 Australian Open at the hands of Marat Safin in a best-of-five match.
“He just took me off the court, that’s all,” Djokovic told atptour.com.
“He was better in every segment of the game. It was a pretty bad match on my part, but incredible on his part.
“He definitely deserved this result,” added the Serbian star, who was playing his first event since his final Roland Garros loss to Rafael Nadal three weeks ago.
Friday’s loss also means he will have to wait a bit longer before completing the formality of equaling Pete Sampras’ all-time record of finishing the season atop the standings for the sixth time.
Djokovic, who will not defend his Paris Masters crown this week, is already looking forward to the season-ending ATP Finals from November 15-22.
“I did what I had to do and why I came here. I am moving forward completely well with today’s result and looking to the next chapter,” he said. “I am healthy and I hope to have a good finish in London.”
Sonego fired 26 winners over Djokovic, who lost for the third time this year, along with 39 wins. The 17-time Grand Slam champion had just seven winners against 25 unforced errors.
“It sure is the best victory of my life. Novak is the best in the world. Today I played very, very well,” said Sonego, 25.
“It’s incredible. It’s incredible. I played the best game of my life. I’m very happy about this.”
Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost on Friday, falling 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to World No. 8 Andrey Rublev.
The Russian had 30 winners over the US Open champion.
“I came here in the spirit that I have nothing to lose,” said Rublev, who is chasing a fifth title of the year.
“I already had a really great season. I came here with zero expectations, I just wanted to do my best. Try to fight every game. In the end, I’m here in the semi-finals.”
FRANCE PRESS AGENCY, REUTERS
[ad_2]
