Illness fells unlucky Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, troubled by upset stomach, fought bravely in his Australian Open 3-2 loss against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

A bout of diarrhoea and vomiting effectively ended third seed Novak Djokovic's Australian Open on Wednesday, with the Serbian struggling to play at his best against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Djokovic looked to have the match at his mercy when he bounced back from losing a first-set tiebreaker to take the next two sets.

But he was then troubled by a stomach upset and was sick in the locker room during a medical time-out early in the fourth set.

He also said he had diarrhoea before the match.

The 2008 champion was not the same player after the break, and eventually succumbed 7-6 (10/8), 6-7 (5/7), 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

It was a frustrating end for Djokovic, who also had to retire at the same stage of last year's tournament due to cramping and heat illness.

Djokovic: ''I don't want to find excuses for my loss."

- It was unfortunate that I couldn't perform at the level I wanted to in the fourth and fifth sets - he said.

- I don't want to find excuses for my loss, but, you know, I went to vomit and I had diarrhoea before the match - he added.

- Just a terrible feeling. It's been a great tournament for me, so it's just a bad way to not to be able physically go through the whole match - said Djokovic.

He said he started feeling unwell before the match, but felt he could play.

- I had a little problems with the stomach even before the match - he said.

- The big deal I started feeling after the third set when I just I couldn't hold on. After two games I had to go to the toilet. There was no other way, otherwise I would throw up on the court - he added.

The illness sapped him of energy and he wasn't the same player in the fourth and fifth sets.

Djokovic: ''I wasn't able to run him down at the baseline.''

- It was very bad with my legs in the fourth, and especially in the fifth set - he said.

- I wasn't able to run him down at the baseline, and that was the major problem. He was serving well and just got a confidence boost to be aggressive. It was unfortunate - he said.

Despite failing to get past Tsonga, he can take consolation from the fact he will be a career-high second in the rankings on Monday.

Rafael Nadal is set to fall to third after the Spanish defending champion retired injured from his quarter-final against Andy Murray.

Roger Federer remains world number one.

- If it happens it's great. It's something that I've waited for many years already - Djokovic said.