Djokovic, a 12-time Grand Slam champion, went two sets to love down in Paris before fighting-back to win the third.

But he then lost a titanic fourth set tie-break to eventually slip to a 6-3, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 defeat.

Cecchinato had never won a main-draw match at a Grand Slam before the beginning of the tournament, but has now become the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Corrado Barazzutti at the 1978 French Open.

The 25-year-old was banned for match-fixing in 2016 before having the suspension overturned.

"It's amazing, it's unbelievable for me," he said, according to BBC Sport.

"I am very happy because it is unbelievable to beat Novak Djokovic at a quarter-final in Roland Garros.

"I started very well on my serve and, phew... I was so tired, but I won the match... amazing."

Cecchinato will next face Austria's Dominic Thiem in the semi-final after the seventh seed enjoyed a straight sets win over Germany's second seed Alexander Zverev,

Thiem beat Zverev, who was also struggling with injury, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

Top seed Rafael Nadal will face Argentina's Diego Schwartzman tomorrow for a semi-final place in the other half of the draw, while Croatia's Marin Čilić will lock horns with another Argentinian in Juan Martin del Potro.

US Open champion Sloane Stephens set-up a women's singles semi-final with fellow American Madison Keys after beating Russia's Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1 today.

Keys beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 7-6, 6-4.

Top seed Simon Halep of Romania faces Germany's Angelique Kerber in the other half of the draw tomorrow.

Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza will also face Maria Sharapova of Russia.