<p>Novak Djokovic suffered his heaviest ever defeat in a three-set match on Friday when he was knocked out of the Vienna ATP tournament by lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego, stalling his bid to wrap up the year-end world number one ranking for the sixth time.</p>.<p>Italian Sonego, ranked 42 and who had initially lost in qualifying last weekend, is the first lucky loser ever to beat Djokovic.</p>.<p>His 6-2, 6-1 quarter-final stunner was 33-year-old Djokovic's heaviest ever defeat.</p>.<p>The only other time the Serb had won just three games was at the 2005 Australian Open at the hands of Marat Safin in a best-of-five set encounter.</p>.<p>"He just blew me off the court, that's all," Djokovic told atptour.com.</p>.<p>"He was better in every segment of the game. It was a pretty bad match from my side, but amazing from his side.</p>.<p>"He definitely deserved this result," added the Serb star who was playing his first tournament since his Roland Garros final defeat to Rafal Nadal three weeks ago.</p>.<p>Friday's defeat means Djokovic will have to wait a little longer before he completes the formality of equalling Pete Sampras's all-time record of ending the season top of the rankings for a sixth time.</p>.<p>"For sure it's the best victory of my life. Novak is the best in the world. Today I played so, so good," Sonego said.</p>.<p>"It's unbelievable. It's amazing. I played the best match in my life. I'm so happy for this."</p>.<p>Sonego fired 26 winners past the Serb who lost for only the third time in 2020.</p>.<p>Djokovic, a 17-time major champion, managed just seven winners against 25 unforced errors.</p>.<p>Sonego goes on to face either Britain's Dan Evans or Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria for a place in the final.</p>.<p>Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost Friday, going down 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to Russian world number eight Andrey Rublev.</p>.<p>Rublev hit 30 winners past the US Open champion and goes on to face South Africa's Kevin Anderson for a place in the final.</p>.<p>"I came here with the mood that I have nothing to lose," said Rublev who is chasing a fifth title of the year.</p>.<p>"I had already a really great season. I came here with zero expectations, just wanting to do my best. To try to fight every match. At the end, I am here in the semi-finals."</p>.<p>Anderson made the semi-finals by accounting for Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).</p>.<p>It was 2018 champion Anderson's first top 10 win in two years.</p>
<p>Novak Djokovic suffered his heaviest ever defeat in a three-set match on Friday when he was knocked out of the Vienna ATP tournament by lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego, stalling his bid to wrap up the year-end world number one ranking for the sixth time.</p>.<p>Italian Sonego, ranked 42 and who had initially lost in qualifying last weekend, is the first lucky loser ever to beat Djokovic.</p>.<p>His 6-2, 6-1 quarter-final stunner was 33-year-old Djokovic's heaviest ever defeat.</p>.<p>The only other time the Serb had won just three games was at the 2005 Australian Open at the hands of Marat Safin in a best-of-five set encounter.</p>.<p>"He just blew me off the court, that's all," Djokovic told atptour.com.</p>.<p>"He was better in every segment of the game. It was a pretty bad match from my side, but amazing from his side.</p>.<p>"He definitely deserved this result," added the Serb star who was playing his first tournament since his Roland Garros final defeat to Rafal Nadal three weeks ago.</p>.<p>Friday's defeat means Djokovic will have to wait a little longer before he completes the formality of equalling Pete Sampras's all-time record of ending the season top of the rankings for a sixth time.</p>.<p>"For sure it's the best victory of my life. Novak is the best in the world. Today I played so, so good," Sonego said.</p>.<p>"It's unbelievable. It's amazing. I played the best match in my life. I'm so happy for this."</p>.<p>Sonego fired 26 winners past the Serb who lost for only the third time in 2020.</p>.<p>Djokovic, a 17-time major champion, managed just seven winners against 25 unforced errors.</p>.<p>Sonego goes on to face either Britain's Dan Evans or Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria for a place in the final.</p>.<p>Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost Friday, going down 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to Russian world number eight Andrey Rublev.</p>.<p>Rublev hit 30 winners past the US Open champion and goes on to face South Africa's Kevin Anderson for a place in the final.</p>.<p>"I came here with the mood that I have nothing to lose," said Rublev who is chasing a fifth title of the year.</p>.<p>"I had already a really great season. I came here with zero expectations, just wanting to do my best. To try to fight every match. At the end, I am here in the semi-finals."</p>.<p>Anderson made the semi-finals by accounting for Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).</p>.<p>It was 2018 champion Anderson's first top 10 win in two years.</p>