Story highlights
Novak Djokovic exits ATP World Tour Finals in London
World No.1 beaten 3-6 6-3 6-3 by fellow Serbian Janko Tipsarevic at O2 Arena
Tomas Berdych beats David Ferrer 3-6 7-5 6-1 to eliminate Djokovic
Berdych and Ferrer qualify for semifinals from Group A
World No.1 Novak Djokovic has been eliminated as the shocks continued Friday at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Djokovic lost 3-6 6-3 6-3 to fellow Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in his final round-robin match in Group A.
That defeat, the second in three matches for Djokovic, coupled with a superb victory for Czech Tomas Berdych over Spain’s David Ferrer in the later group match Friday night, sealed his fate.
Berdych, who topped the group, will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the semifinals.
Tsonga had sent World No.2 Rafael Nadal crashing out of the tournament Thursday night in another upset.
“Finally I did it after such a tough one again,” said Berdych, who was taken to three sets in all his three round-robin matches.
Ferrer looked set to complete a clean sweep of three wins when he led Berdych by a set and serving at 4-3 in the second, but his opponent mounted a stirring comeback.
He clawed back the break and then claimed Ferrer’s service for the third time with brilliant attacking play at 6-5 to level.
With Ferrer wilting, Berdych raced into a 5-0 lead in the decider and easily closed it out as he served for the match for the first time.
Ferrer’s defeat has left him an unenviable opening semifinal against defending champion Roger Federer Saturday afternoon.
Earlier, Tipsarevic, who would have gone through had he converted the match point he held before losing his first match against Berdych, finished his season in glorious fashion.
“There were a lot of ups and down from both Novak and me, but I am very happy to be here after starting this year at 49 in the world,” Tipsarevic said after wrapping up victory on his third match point.
Djokovic, who needed to win in straight sets to boost his chances of going through, took the opener with a single break, but ran out of steam in the second.
Tipsarevic finally took it as he broke his practice partner for the second time and immediately broke at the start of the decider.
Djokovic, who came into the tournament with a 69-4 record and three grand slam triumphs in 2011, never looked capable of clawing it back and leading 5-3 Tipsarevic forged a 40-0 lead before sealing victory as his opponent hit a forehand lamely into the net.
Britain’s Andy Murray was the first favorite to fall by the wayside at the 02 Arena, losing his opening round-robin to Ferrer before pulling out with an injury to be replaced by first alternate Tipsarevic.