Erste Bank Open: sensation! Weak Novak Djokovic fails to Lorenzo Sonego
Sensation at the Erste Bank Open. Lorenzo Sonego defeated a weak Novak Djokovic 6: 2 and 6: 1 in the quarter-finals and is in the semi-finals.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 30, 2020, 07:17 pm
By Michael Rothschädl
The Italian lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego, who surprisingly prevailed against the strong-serving Poland Hubert Hurkacz, was quite a surprise in the round of the last eight of the Erste Bank Open. But now the points were on elimination, should Novak Djokovic, number one in the tennis world, wait on the other side of the network.
Instead of freezing in awe, the Italian started furiously, grabbed the break in the first game and was the significantly better player on the field in the early stages. Also because Djokovic was supposed to be surprisingly prone to errors, but mainly because Sonego presented a very ambitious and risk-taking performance - and should make the next break in the Serbian’s next service game.
Sonego beats Djokovic as the first lucky loser ever
That was tantamount to winning the set for the Italian, who had a Novak Djokovic against him, who slowly but surely found his way into the match, but was able to keep it at a distance with strong serves and was supposed to win the first round 6-2. The Italian's soaring flight should also continue at the start of the second set, Sonego got the early break again, but was confronted with breakballs for the first time when the score was 1: 2. The world number 42. In this phase, however, he showed himself to be particularly nervous, fended off all chances of the Serb and made it 3: 1.
Now the Italian seemed to be in the shape of his life, Sonego made another break to 4: 1. The Italian was also able to fend off break chances in the next service game, again and again it was the one-two punch with the forehand that brought Sonego to success. With the best ball in this game, Sonego also won this game, only one game should make it to 42nd place in the world. missing out on the biggest win of his career. Djokovic had already given up slightly at this point, played unmotivated serve-and-volley attempts and consequently had the first match point against him. Sonego was able to transform - and was in the semi-finals.
This is Djokovic's first loss to a lucky loser in his entire professional career. Lorenzo Sonego was able to inflict one of only two defeats in the 2020 calendar year on the great dominator of the season. The industry leader had only lost one sporting event on the pitch, the other resulted from a disqualification at the US Open.