Rafael Nadal: Marco Cecchinato willing to spill BLOOD after Novak Djokovic French Open win
MARCO CECCHINATO says he will ‘sign in blood’ if he gets offered a French Open final clash with Rafael Nadal.
Cecchinato continued to shock the ATP Tour as he knocked former world No 1 Novak Djokovic out of the French Open quarter-finals yesterday.
The win follows impressive victories against top-10 stars Pablo Carreno Busta and David Goffin en route to the semi-finals, where Dominic Thiem awaits.
The Italian had never won a Grand Slam match before he arrived at Roland Garros this term.
And it is likely the winner of Cecchinato against Thiem will face Nadal in the final on Sunday.
I sign with blood if they tell me that I play the final and lose it with Nadal
”I sign with blood if they tell me that I play the final and lose it with Nadal,” Cecchinato said.
“When I won the last point [against Djokovic] it was the best feeling of my life.
"My life has changed, my heart was going a thousand and my hand was shaking.”
Cecchinato will face a very difficult last-four tie against Thiem, who is widely regarded to be Nadal’s heir on clay.
But the world No 72 says he has beaten the Austrian in his only previous meeting - which came when they were both juniors.
"I won a match for Thiem, I think it was in the final of the promises category,” Cecchinato added.
"Maybe I'm maturing at 25.
“Something has changed in my head for two months now, now I believe in my potential.”