SHANGHAI: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic went from perfectly unbeatable to unbelievably beaten in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

Federer and Djokovic had been a combined 13-0 in Shanghai with a spot in the semi-finals on the line, but both lost on Friday as the next generation of youngsters made their mark.

Federer saved five match points in the second set and received a point penalty in the third in the 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 6-3 loss to fifth-seeded Alexander Zverev. Djokovic, the defending champion, lost to sixth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

For the first time since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2009, none of the ‘Big Four’ — Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Federer and Andy Murray — are in contention for the trophy.

“He deserved the victory,” Djokovic said of the 21-year-old Tsitsipas. “He was the better player in the second and third sets. I started well in the first set, but I wasn’t sharp enough.”

Djokovic had been 8-0 in quarter-final matches at the Shanghai Masters, and won four titles. Federer had been 5-0.

Federer received a code violation for hitting a ball into the stands, and then received a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after flicking a ball into the air when trailing 3-0 in the third set.

When asked about the point penalty after the match, Federer didn’t want to go into any detail.

“So you could write on Twitter, you mean?” Federer answered. “No, it would be nice to write something nice once also about the game. Next question.”

The 22-year-old Zverev now leads Federer 4-3 in career meetings.

“I mean, they’re knocking on the door big time, the young guys,” Federer said. “It’s exciting. They’re great. It’s really open now, I think, for the finish of this tournament.”

Zverev has 11 career titles, but only one arrived this year. “It was a match to turn my year round a little bit,” he said.

Zverev will next meet Italy’s 23-year-old Matteo Berrettini, who defeated China Open champion Dominic Thiem 7-6 (10-8), 6-4. Tsitsipas takes on US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev, who overcame Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Until Friday’s match, Djokovic had won 24 straight sets in Asia, a run that included last year’s Shanghai Masters and the title in Tokyo last week.

Tsitsipas has now beaten Djokovic twice in three matches. The Greek player defeated Djokovic in their first meeting at the 2018 Toronto tournament and Djokovic won their match in Madrid this season.

“It’s the best comeback that I have ever had probably,” Tsitsipas said of Friday’s victory.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2019