TENNIS:WORLD NUMBER two Novak Djokovic suddenly ran out of gas as he was knocked out 0-6 7-6 6-4 by American Sam Querrey in the second round of the Paris Masters yesterday.

Serbia’s Djokovic, who will replace Swiss Roger Federer as the world number one next week, breezed through the opening set before losing control. Querrey was trailing 0-2 in the second set but dramatically improved after bagging his first game of the match.

Djokovic, who got into the Halloween spirit by turning up on centre court wearing a Darth Vader mask, ended up being slain by Querrey’s powerful serve and forehand. “Great tennis at the start but I knew that the main problem today will be the continuity of my energy,” Djokovic, who had a stomach bug last weekend, told a news conference.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be after the second set. And during the second set I already felt that physically I’m down.”

Serbian press reported this week that Djokovic had considered pulling out of the Bercy tournament as his father Srdjan was admitted to hospital with respiratory problems, but the second seed refused to blame his personal problems for the loss.

Earlier France’s Richard Gasquet lost his chance to qualify for the World Tour finals when he slumped to a 7-6 4-6 6-1 defeat to Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

Serbian Janko Tipsarevic was still on course for one of the two remaining spots in the eight-man season finale after he beat Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-4 7-6.

Andy Murray advanced past Paul-Henri Mathieu, winning 7-5 6-3 in one hour 33 minutes.