LONDON — His body already aching after a season of almost unceasing success, tennis star Novak Djok- ovic ran into a brick wall in David Ferrer.
Ferrer’s relentless hitting proved too much for Djokovic on Wednesday, giving the fifth-seeded Spaniard a 6-3, 6-1 victory and a berth in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals.
“I think today maybe was my best match of the season,” Ferrer said.
The exact opposite was true for Djokovic. The winner of three Grand Slam tournaments and 10 titles this season looked far from the player who dominated most of 2011, and lost for only the fifth time this year.
“I just wasn’t there,” said Djokovic, who has won 70 matches this year. “It was the worst match I’ve played this season so far definitely.”
Djokovic made 33 unforced errors, three times as many as Ferrer. Djokovic can still advance to the semifinals if he beats fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic today.
Tipsarevic, who stepped in for injured Scotsman Andy Murray, has no chance of reaching the last four after he was beaten in three sets by Tomas Berdych in an earlier match.
Berdych saved a match point en route to a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) win to maintain his hopes of progressing from Group A.
Indians re-sign Sizemore
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians re-signed Grady Sizemore to a one-year, incentive-based contract, bringing the oft-injured former all-star outfielder back for another chance to become the electrifying player whose career has been derailed the past three seasons by injuries and surgeries.
• The Kansas City Royals agreed to a $9 million, two-year contract with left-hander Bruce Chen, solidifying their starting rotation. Chen was 12-7 with a 4.17 ERA in 2010 and backed that up by going 12-8 with a 3.77 ERA this year, leading the Royals in wins.
• Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes were offered salary arbitration, guaranteeing their teams two extra draft picks next year if they sign with new clubs.
Teams faced decisions on just seven Type A free agents as the Wednesday night deadline approached. A new club signing one of those players would lose a top pick in June’s amateur draft, and a team that offers arbitration and loses one of those players would get two extra selections as compensation.
Pujols (St. Louis), Fielder (Milwaukee) and Reyes (Mets) received offers, along with Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson and Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins. They have until Nov. 30 to accept.
The Phillies declined to offer arbitration to right- hander Roy Oswalt.
San Diego offered arbitration to closer Heath Bell, who had been a Type A player but was reclassified under Tuesday’s labor deal. If he signs elsewhere, the Padres will gain two draft picks, but Bell’s new club won’t lose any. Philadelphia made an arbitration offer to reliever Ryan Madson, who is in the same category.
Also offered arbitration were Padres pitcher Aaron Harang, Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle, St. Louis right-hander Edwin Jackson and Phillies outfielder Raul Ibañez.
Footnotes.
Lee Westwood has decided to join the PGA Tour again. It will be the first time the English star has taken up PGA Tour membership since the 2008 season. The move requires Westwood to compete in 15 tournaments, which includes the four majors and World Golf Championships.
• Robert Kubica will miss at least the early part of the 2012 Formula One season for Renault while he recovers from injuries he suffered during an Italian rally Feb. 6.
• The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said field hockey player Pamela Spuehler has accepted a two-month suspension after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
• Jim Rathmann, the 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner, died at the age of 83 at a hospice facility in Melbourne, Fla., nine days after having a seizure at his home.
The Associated Press
