Defending Madrid Open champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated from the tournament by his countryman Janko Tipsarevic 7-6(2), 6-3. Tipsarevic will play Roger Federer on Saturday for a spot in the final.
“I want to congratulate Janko for playing a great match today,†said Djokovic.†I think he’s actually playing one of the best tournaments of his career. I talked to him and he feels really good on the court and I’m glad, I want to wish him luck so he can go all the way. I think he can, he has the game, he has the confidence on the court, he has been hitting a lot of aces, winners for the first shots. He has being playing great, there’s no questioning that. For me, I want to forget this week as soon as possible and move on to the real clay courts.â€
Djokovic continued to be upset about the blue clay. “When we came here we didn’t know what to expect because most of hadn’t tested this surface. It took us, I mean, it took me almost a week to try to get used to this surface. And somehow I found my way to win matches and play a decent level of tennis. I guess I’m really looking forward to coming back to the real clay because I don’t call this clay. I think this is something totally different and if they wanted to make a test of how it looks and how it feels, in my eyes they failed. I cannot say what the future will bring, they know what it’s going on. I just hope that the ATP will strongly consider what we think and what we feel and where we stand because if ATP has to protect the players and backs them up then there is no way that Madrid is going to keep the blue clay.â€