Doha: Novak Djokovic suffered his first defeat of the new season in the Qatar Open semifinals here Friday, losing in three sets to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
World No.1 Djokovic, who was pushed to the limit in his last two matches in Doha by Marton Fucsovics and Nikoloz Basilashvili, failed to find a way past a determined Bautista Agut who won 3-6, 7-6(8-6), 6-4 in two hours and 35 minutes.
The 30-year-old Spaniard will face Tomas Berdych in the title clash after the Czech beat fourth-seeded Italian Marco Cecchinato 7-6(8-6), 6-3 in the other semifinal.
“I will remember this match all my life,” said World No.24 Bautista Agut, whose victory over Djokovic slightly improved his win-loss record against the Serb to 2-7.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere. I work every day to play this tennis. I know it’s difficult to play at this level. That’s why Novak is No.1 in the world. But I cannot be more happy than I am now.”
Defeat meant Djokovic, who won Wimbledon and the US Open last year in a spectacular return to form after elbow surgery, missed the chance to reach his sixth straight final.
The Serb cruised through the opening set before Bautista Agut dragged the contest into a decider by edging the tiebreak in the second set. With the momentum swinging his way, Bautista Agut secured an early break in the final set before closing out the match.