Djokovic plays bizarre game in surprising loss to Karlovic

Ivo Karlovic upset Novak Djokovic 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Thursday. It was a huge win for Karlovic, but the biggest story may have been a game Djokovic played late in the third set.

After getting broken at 3-3, the world No. 1 pushed Karlovic to deuce in the eighth game but failed to get back on serve. In his ensuing service game, Djokovic played at warp speed while serve and volleying on every point. He managed to hold before Karlovic held at love to clinch victory.

Djokovic’s 3-5 service game:

It wasn’t quite like Fabio Fognini’s legendary service game at the 2013 Cincinnati Masters….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y15DHHSBHtk]

…Nor was there any blatant point-tanking like Stan Wawrinka last fall….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjBdnQQ6hm8]

…But it was the most bizarre game Djokovic has played since THIS (albeit far less hysterical):
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0vAYBAQqU]

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