Two of Djokovic's four defeats in 2011 have been the result of retirements Novak Djokovic suffered only his fourth defeat of the year as he lost to Japan's Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel.The world number one, who was nursing a shoulder injury, lost 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 to the world number 32.
Nishikori, a wildcard entry in the tournament, will now meet Roger Federer or Stanislas Wawrinka in the final.
The Japanese player is only the second man, after Federer, to beat Djokovic in a completed match this year.
Two of Djokovic's previous four defeats had come as the result of retirements.
Continue reading the main story v Roger Federer (French Open semi-finals, May)v Andy Murray (Cincinnati Masters final, August) RETIREDv Juan Martin del Potro (Davis Cup semi-finals, September) RETIREDv Kei Nishikori (Swiss Indoors semi-finals, November)The top seed received treatment for his shoulder problem early in the match and needed another injury timeout at the start of the final set.
After the match he admitted his shoulder had been troubling him all week, but said he still expected to play in the Paris Masters, starting on Monday.
"I don't think I'll be able to train for the next few days, but I think I'll go straight to Paris," he said.
And the reigning Australian, Wimbledon and US Open champion paid tribute to his opponent, who has just one career title - on hard courts at Delray Beach, Florida, in 2008 - to his name.
"He was getting impossible balls back and really making me play every shot," said Djokovic. "He was better and I didn't use the opportunities I had. I don't think I should speak about that third set."
The Serbian was playing in his first tournament following six weeks out with a back problem.
The 32nd-ranked Nishikori said: "It's unbelievable. In the second set I started playing well and getting a rhythm."
