Top-ranked Novak Djokovic followed in the footsteps of another tennis heavyweight, Rafael Nadal, to face elimination from the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Djokovic lost to fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic on Friday to finish round-robin play with a 1-2 record. Afterwards Djokovic admitted that he was physically exhausted since a run of injuries which began in late September after winning the US Open, his third Grand Slam of the season.
However, he would have gone through to the last four if David Ferrer had beaten Tomas Berdych in the late match.
The seventh-seeded Czech was determined not to waste his chance against the unmotivated Ferrer, who had already advanced by winning his first two matches.
Berdych rallied from a set and a break down to beat his opponent 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, and grab the last semifinal spot at the season-ending tournament.
Berdych will take on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday evening, while Ferrer will test Roger Federer.