Lorenzo Sonego: 'Novak Djokovic complimented me after Vienna, but we didn't..'

The 25-year-old Italian Lorenzo Sonego has been ranked inside the top-100 since spring 2019, playing consistent tennis that went to another level last week in Vienna. Lorenzo reached the main draw as a lucky loser, scoring a brilliant victory over Novak Djokovic in the quarters before losing to Andrey Rublev in the title clash. It was a rock-solid performance from Lorenzo against pale Novak, delivering a 6-2, 6-1 triumph in 68 minutes, in what has been the toughest loss in Djokovic's impressive career! It was the first top-10 victory for the 25-year-old, who dominated on both serve and return and left Novak far behind. Sonego saved all six break chances and delivered five breaks, stealing over half of the return points and throwing 26 winners and 12 unforced errors to dictate the pace. Novak was far from his best, landing only seven winners and counting to 25 errors, never looking like a serious competitor after securing the year-end no. 1 honor in the previous match against Borna Coric.

Djokovic netted a smash at 30-15 in the first game and suffered a break after a loose forehand for a shaky start. Sonego found his forehand right from the start, holding at 30 in game two to confirm the break. Novak got broken again when his forehand landed long, falling 3-0 behind in swift 11 minutes. Lorenzo landed a forehand down the line winner in game four to move further ahead, firing four winners at 4-1 and holding at love after four winners in game eight to secure the opener in grand style after 31 minutes. With nothing working his way, world no. 1 netted a forehand in the first game of the second set to give serve away before Lorenzo fired a service winner to move closer to the finish line.

Lorenzo Sonego lost just three games against Novak Djokovic in Vienna.

Facing the first troubles on serve, the Italian fended off three break chances in the fourth game, bringing it home when Novak sprayed a backhand mistake. Gaining momentum from there, Sonego landed a forehand down the line winner to grab another break in game five, forging a 4-1 advantage and looking good to seal the deal from there. Playing bold and aggressive tennis, Lorenzo repelled three break chances in game six and held after a smash winner at the net that sent him 5-1 up. Serving to extend the clash, Novak got broken following a return winner from Sonego, who started a massive celebration of his most significant victory in a career.

"My models have always been Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. If I could steal something from an opponent, however, I would choose Djokovic's return. Novak complimented me after the match in Vienna, but we didn't talk much. I was also pleased with Ivanisevic's compliments. Had I played against anyone else, I would have done it with the same determination. I was not distracted by my opponents' names, nor by what was happening off the pitch. Of course, I never expected to reach the final as a lucky loser. I had good sensations, and I felt improved, but it's always difficult to win games with such strong players. It all went well for me," Lorenzo Sonego said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2I3sOr5