Novak Djokovic from Serbia returns a ball to Serbian Janko Tipsarevic during a Madrid Open tennis tournament match in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Alberto Di Lolli)
MADRID — Novak Djokovic lost 7-6 (2), 6-3 to Janko Tipsarevic in a stunning upset in the Madrid Open quarterfinals on Friday, becoming the latest big name to be beaten on the blue-clay court.
It was Tipsarevic’s second win in five matches against Djokovic, who last lost at this stage in November at the Paris Masters.
Tipsarevic had to fight to hold serve and force the first-set tiebreaker. He outplayed the defending champion and fellow Serb in the second set.
Second-ranked Rafael Nadal was beaten by Fernando Verdasco on Thursday, while second-seeded Maria Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in the women’s event earlier Friday.
Nadal says he won’t return to the tournament unless it reverts to red clay. Djokovic says the new surface is slippery.