Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts to a point lost. Photo / AP
World No.1 Novak Djokovic was eliminated from the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday after Tomas Berdych clinched the last semi-final spot with a win over David Ferrer.
Djokovic would have qualified for the last four had Ferrer beaten Berdych even though the Serb had lost two of his three Group A matches.
But former Wimbledon finalist Berdych came back from a set down to defeat Ferrer and in the process bring an end to Djokovic's majestic season.
Djokovic has won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open this year, as well as five Masters titles and also replaced Rafael Nadal on top of the world rankings.
The 24-year-old - the first man to win 10 titles in a season since Roger Federer in 2006 - finished the year with an impressive record of 70 wins from 76 matches.
Czech seventh seed Berdych finished as Group A winner courtesy of his 3-6 7-5 6-1 victory over Ferrer.
He will play France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Saturday's semi-finals, while Ferrer, who had already qualified, takes on defending champion Roger Federer in the last four.
Djokovic's defeat against Janko Tipsarevic earlier in the day meant Berdych was certain to qualify in first place if he could beat Ferrer.
There was significant motivation for both players to finish top of the group since it would mean avoiding a semi-final showdown with 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer.
Neither player was willing to give an inch for much of the first set but it was Ferrer who landed the decisive blow.
A superb backhand down the line gave him the first two break points of the match and he needed only one to take the lead when Berdych's forehand drifted wide.
Ferrer has been in fine form this week, handing Djokovic the heaviest defeat suffered by any world No.1 in over 28 years when he beat the Serb 6-3 6-1.
The Spaniard, who had won his previous four meetings with Berdych, broke in the third game of a rollercoaster second set.
But Berdych hit straight back to level at 2-2 with an angled volley on his third break-point in the next game.
Ferrer looked in control when he broke for a 4-3 lead, yet the world number five then lost his composure as Berdych unloaded some big ground-strokes to come from 40-15 down to break again.
Berdych was playing with real freedom now and he snatched the set from Ferrer's grasp with another break at 6-5.
Ferrer changed into a lurid pink top for the final set but the switch didn't bring him any luck as a double fault in the first game presented Berdych with the decisive break.
After being out-played for the first set and a half, Berdych was suddenly within touching distance of an unlikely semi-final berth and he moved even closer when Ferrer double-faulted to fall 4-0 behind.
Berdych's serve was working too well to blow that lead and the Czech was soon celebrating his spot in the last four.
- AFP
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