Defending champion Novak Djokovic, who often bounces the ball more than a dozen times before serving, went into a funk after being warned for taking too much time between points, then blew a third-set lead to lose his opening match yesterday at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Qualifier Kevin Anderson, a 6-foot-7 former NCAA doubles champion at Illinois, beat the third-ranked Djokovic, 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 6-4.
Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open and was coming off a title at Indian Wells last week.
Serving at 2-0 in the third set, Djokovic won the next point after the warning to reach deuce, then lost 13 points in a row. Jeers from the crowd further agitated him, and by the time Djokovic collected himself, Anderson was up a break at 3-2.
"I didn't focus myself in that moment," Djokovic said. "But, you know, that's okay. It's all part of the game."
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