Serbia won a second straight Hopman Cup tie by edging winless Australia 2-1 on Wednesday.
Bernard Tomic stunned world number one Novak 6-4 6-4 as Australia took an early lead over Serbia in the second round group A tie.
Tomic put Djokovic under pressure right from the start, holding five break points in the opening game. Djokovic survived that threat and held a break point of his own to lead 5-3 but netted a backhand. Tomic then broke serve in the next game with a crosscourt forehand winner and served out the set.
He kept up the pressure in the second set. He failed to convert a break point to lead 4-3, but won his sixth break point at 5-4 and then served for the match.
”He played really well. He deserved to win,” Djokovic said. ”I knew I was coming here to Australia really late and it still takes time for me to get used to it.
”But I’m not taking anything from his win. He played terrific. He’s in great form. I was always on the back foot and he was the better player.”
A few hours later Ana Ivanovic was dominant as she crushed her Australian opponent Ashleigh Barty 6-2 6-3 inside Perth Arena.
Top-seeded Serbia scored their second victory in the mixed doubles. Nole and Ana beat Australia’s duo Tomic/Barty 6-4, 6-7(8), 10-6.
The last match in group A, on January 4 at 17.45 local time (10.45 CET), sees Serbia vs Germany (Novak vs Haas, Ana vs Malek).
Photo: Getty Images
