Novak Djokovic has been beaten 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 by another Serbian, Janko Tipsarevic, at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
The world No2, Rafael Nadal, went out of the tournament on Thursday after he was beaten 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Andy Murray, the world No3, withdrew earlier in the week with a groin injury after one match, which leaves Roger Federer as the only member of the world top four to have reached the semi-finals so far.
Tipsarevic, who replaced Murray in the tournament, hit 22 winners and four aces against Djokovic. He was not in contention for a semi-final spot.
Djokovic played better than in his thrashing by Ferrer two days ago, but he faded badly after winning the first set. He took control of the first set with a break in the fourth game. He was moving well and hitting the ball much more crisply than on Wednesday, and Tipsarevic had to fight off two set points at 5-2 when the net twice came to his opponent’s aid. That earned Tipsarevic, one of the ATP Tour’s most engaging figures, the support of the crowd and there was a loud cheer when he managed to hold, but Djokovic had no trouble serving it out.
The errors began to creep in at the start of the second set, however, and Tipsarevic capitalised in the sixth game when a Djokovic drop shot failed to clear the net. The world No9 was trading blow for blow with his countryman but he could not cement the break as some amazing defence from Djokovic eventually drew a mistake.
Djokovic was broken again at the start of the decider. The zip of the first set had gone out of the 24-year-old’s shots and he quickly slipped three match points down on his own serve. He saved two but dumped a forehand into the net on the third to give Tipsarevic a first win at the finals.
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