10. 06. 2010. ·
World no.3 and 2008 finalist Novak Djokovic lost his third round match to world no.74 Belgian Xavier Malisse in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 2-6 at the AEGON Championships in London in 1 hour and 42 minutes.
Novak had three chances for break in the second game of the first set, but Malisse held for 1-1. The Belgian capitalised on his third break point in the fifth game and then extended his lead to 4-2. He broke Djokovic’s serve once again in the ninth game to take the set 6-3 in 33 minutes.
Both players held their serves till the ninth game of the second set, when Nole broke his opponent to go 5-4 up. The best Serbian tennis player faced a break point in the following game but managed to wrap up the set 6-4.
Malisse was more successful in the decisive final set. He made two breaks, in the sixth and eighth games, and won it 6-2 for victory in their first encounter.
Djokovic and Erlich play their doubles quarter-final match tomorrow. They face no.2 seeds Wesley Moodie (RSA) and Dick Norman (BEL).
After Queen’s, Novak will play at the third Grand Slam of the season-Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, June 21.
