Second-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic has tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP tournament, upset 7-5, 6-3 by big-serving Croat Ivan Ljubicic in the fourth round.

While holder Rafa Nadal took three sets to overcame towering American John Isner 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, second seed Djokovic was eliminated in a match lasting one hour and 44 minutes.

The Serbian world number two, champion in 2008, lost his serve in the sixth game of the second set and sent a forehand service return long to hand Ljubicic victory.

Ljubicic, the 20th seed, fired down 13 aces to record only his second win against Djokovic in seven meetings.

“I had a lot of opportunities and I didn’t use many of them,” Djokovic said after converting only two of five break-point chances.

“My execution was very bad and he played well when he needed to, he served well when he needed to.

“I was aware of his qualities before the match, and I was aware that if he serves well, then he can play relaxed on the return games. So that was the case.”

Although the 1.93-metre Ljubicic lost serve in the third game of the match, he broke back in the eighth and 12th to take the opening set in just under an hour.

Repeatedly unleashing first serves above 130 mph, he swept through the second set to book a place in the quarter-finals against 21st seed Juan Monaco of Argentina, who beat Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Djokovic’s early departure followed the premature exit of world number one and three-times champion Roger Federer, who was suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

Twice champion Nadal, who beat Britain’s Andy Murray in last year’s final, broke Isner in the fourth game of the final set before sealing victory with a trademark forehand winner down the line.

Nadal next faces Czech Tomas Berdych, a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Serbian Victor Troicki, while Ljubicic will take on Monaco.

Baghdatis, who saved three match points en route to his triumph over Federer, could not hold off Spain’s Tommy Robredo, who notched a 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 victory to line up a meeting with seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick, who beat Austraia’s Jurgen Melzer 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Murray will play sixth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling, who beat France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal leaned backwards in delight to celebrate his advance to the last eight.

“John is a very difficult player to play against and I think he will be in the top 10 soon with his serve and forehand,” left-hander Nadal said.

“I know I have to play a very good match if I want chances to win. I try to play aggressive with the forehand and I am very happy with my performance.”

Dementieva gone

In the women’s draw, fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska breezed into her second semi-final of the year with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva.

Poland’s Radwanska, who also reached the last four in Dubai last month and has yet to drop a set at Indian Wells, broke her opponent twice in each set to win the match in one hour and 31 minutes.

The 21-year-old sealed victory when Dementieva hit a backhand service return long and will next meet either her good friend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark or China’s Zheng Jie.

“I’m very happy I am in this condition, always playing two sets,” a smiling Radwanska said.

“It’s always better to win in two sets but it’s always hard, especially here.”

Dementieva, a losing finalist to compatriot Maria Sharapova in 2006, was frustrated with her display in ideal conditions on the stadium court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“It was a perfect day to play tennis, and this year it’s not windy,” the 28-year-old said.

“It’s beautiful weather. I just didn’t play the way I should to beat her.

“I was actually playing her game the way she feels pretty comfortable with the long rallies.

“I was not aggressive with my footwork and with my shots, just way too many mistakes from me. And she was playing as usual.

“She was pretty solid on the baseline, no mistakes.”

-Reuters