• ATP World Tour Finals

Djokovic slips up at the hands of Tipsarevic

Novak Djokovic was well beaten by Janko Tipsarevic © Getty Images

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Novak Djokovic was forced to endure a nervous few hours at the ATP World Tour Finals after the world No. 1 was beaten by fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Djokovic needed David Ferrer to beat Tomas Berdych later on Friday after he suffered his first back-to-back defeats since March 2010 having let a first-set lead slip from his grasp. But with Ferrer already through to the knockout stages, the Spaniard also surrendered a lead as Berdych bounced back from a set and a break down to pip Djokovic to a place in the last four.

Djokovic, who was out of sorts in his defeat to Ferrer on Wednesday, started well, but looked exhausted as he suffered his first defeat to his countryman.

After suffering only his fifth defeat of the season on Wednesday, Djokovic admitted his defeat to Ferrer was his worst performance of the year, and with his participation in the remainder of the tournament in doubt, he looked devoid of ideas as he slumped to defeat.

Djokovic started strongly, claiming an early breakthrough with a break of serve in the fourth game and he never looked in danger of surrendering his advantage, sealing the opening set with an emphatic forehand.

But Tipsarevic, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning his first ATP Tour titles and reaching his first grand slam quarter-final to see him break into the world's top ten for the first time, was not prepared to give his compatriot an easy ride.

The world No. 9 came under pressure on every service game in the second set, but refused to buckle as he continued to defy Djokovic as he tried everything in his armoury, producing an array of passes, lobs and drop shots.

Knowing that failure to close out the match in straight sets would give Berdych a greater chance of pipping him to the runner-up berth in Group A, the pressure began to mount on Djokovic to find a way through, and it was Tipsarevic who claimed the breakthrough.

Djokovic showed incredible defence to break straight back, but the top seed was clearly suffering from his exertions earlier in the season, and a lacklustre double fault handed Tipsarevic break point. The No. 9 seed, sensing his opponent's tiredness, was content to stay in the rally and allow Djokovic to fire a forehand long to forge ahead - before serving out to force a decider.

From that point, there was only one winner, as Tipsarevic struck early to kill off any chance of a Djokovic revival, and the Serbian No. 2 held his nerve to close out the match for one of the biggest wins of his career.

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