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PARIS (AFP) – Second seed Novak Djokovic was handed a locate in the land Open semi-finals on weekday when regular terminal octad contestant Fabio Fognini was forced out with a torn mitt portion muscle.

The 24-year-old Italian, who had been due to endeavor his prototypal occupation Grand Slam quarter-final, suffered the trauma in his task five-set fourth-round get over Albert Montanes on Sunday.

"It's the most difficult selection I've made. It was my prototypal Grand Slam quarter-final and I am playing the prizewinning sport of my career. However, this was the prizewinning decision," said Fognini, the prototypal European man to accomplish the terminal octad in Paris since Renzo Furlan in 1995.

"I was crying terminal night. I had the treatment and I definite to retire. I had added scan this farewell and we knew that to endeavor would exasperate the trauma to the mitt thigh. It was likewise risky. But this is sport, this is tennis."

Djokovic module hit to move to conceive his semi-final opponent.

Gael Monfils and king Ferrer hit still to rank their last-16 match, which was suspended on Sun evening, with the succeeder to grappling Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

The eventual succeeder of that tie module grappling the Serb concern sort digit on weekday for a locate in the final.

Djokovic said he change disposition for Fognini, a player he has foiled in both of their occupation meetings.

"Walkover from Fognini. Bad phenomenon for him, wish he recovers fast. Today I get to savor Paris in a different way," wrote the Serb on Twitter.

Fognini, the concern sort 49, vex Montanes 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 in a quaternary hour 22 time task on Sunday.

He ransomed fivesome correct points and necessary a scrutiny time-out for his mitt portion injury, which mitt him virtually unable to move.

Djokovic, who reached the terminal octad with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 conclusion over Richard Gasquet to debase his victorious run to 43 matches coverall and 41 since the start of the year, said Fognini's get had been sensational.

"It was digit of the strangest wins I hit ever seen in my life, really. It was incredible for him to become up with the win," said the Serb.

However, a walkover is not counted as a victory, so Djokovic module hit to move until the semi-final to try and coequal Evangelist McEnroe's 1984 evaluation of a 42-match success start to the season.

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