Veteran German gets the better of listless Serb star in straight sets

Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic crashed out in the fourth round of the Miami Masters on Tuesday, while last year's runner-up Andy Murray eased through to the quarterfinals in straight sets.

World No 1 Djokovic was stunned 6-2, 6-4 by German 15th seed Tommy Haas, but US Open winner Murray had no such difficulties, breezing past Italy's Andreas Seppi by the same score in the $8.5 million ATP and WTA hard-court event.

"There are days when you don't feel good on the court, and this is one of those days," Australian Open champion Djokovic said.

The Serb lost for just the second time this season, never coming to grips with Haas, who kept Djokovic off his game with a number of skillful shots.

"All the credit to him. He was the better player. As far I am concerned it is the worst match I have played in a long time," Djokovic said.

"I just didn't feel good on the court. The conditions were different. The balls didn't bounce at all and he used a variety of shots very well.

"I just didn't find a solution to come back into the match."

Haas, who turns 35 next week, advances to the last eight. He will face Frenchman Gilles Simon, who outlasted Djokovic's countryman Janko Tipsarevic 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

"I had the mentality tonight going out there believing in it," Haas said. "You've got to. I had a good game plan."

Haas hit seven forehand winners and won 76 percent of his first-serve points, snapping Djokovic's 14 match-winning streak in Miami.

Haas easily won the first set, then clinched victory on his second match point with a forehand winner to the open court, ending the 80-minute match.

Djokovic, who had won this event three times (2007, 2011, 2012), had one double fault and won just 54 percent of his second serves.

This is the first time since 1999 Haas has beaten a world No 1. He defeated Andre Agassi in three sets at the Grand Slam Cup for his only other win over a world No 1 in 15 contests.

Scotsman Murray, the 2009 Miami winner who lost to Djokovic in last year's final, needed only 86 minutes to book a date in the last eight with ninth seed Croatian Marin Cilic.

World No 3 Murray only lost three points (28/31) on his first serve all match. He also fired three aces and had two double faults.

(China Daily 03/28/2013 page23)