Djokovic loses Paris Masters quarter-final

Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Paris Masters in straight sets to Marin Cilic on Friday, opening the door for Andy Murray to snatch the world No.1 ranking and end the Serb’s two-year stranglehold at the top.

Djokovic, who was chasing a fifth title in Paris, was beaten 6-4 7-6 (7-2), his first defeat to the big-serving Croat in 15 matches.

The defeat means Murray, who faces Tomas Berdych in his quarter-final later on Friday, need only win his next two matches in the French capital to end Djokovic’s reign at the summit that stretches back to July 2014.

Djokovic, who needed to reach the final to guarantee keeping Murray at bay, saved two match points at 6-5 in the second set, the latter with a superb forehand cross court, but was soon facing a losing battle in the tiebreak.

Cilic, who clinched his spot in the World Tour Finals on Thursday, raced into a 5-2 lead before a huge serve set up four more match points.

He was soon celebrating after swiping away a mid-court forehand to claim victory in one hour 45 minutes.

Earlier, John Isner won a hard-fought all-American contest against Jack Sock 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.

Isner looked set for a straight-set win while served up a break at 4-3 in the second set but lost his temper after a foot-fault call.

Isner, who had not dropped his serve once since the start of the week, was unsettled by the decision and was broken twice in a row, allowing Sock back in the match.

But the change in momentum did not last long. Isner capitalised on Sock’s mistakes to break him twice early in the decider.

Isner equalled his best result at the indoor tournament, making it to the last four for the first time in five years in the French capital.

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