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PERTH, Australia -- Bernard Tomic defeated top-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 to earn the best win of his career but Australia lost to Serbia 2-1 at the Hopman Cup on Wednesday. Ana Ivanovic evened the round-robin tie by overwhelming Australian 16-year-old Ashleigh Barty 6-2, 6-3. Barty made a positive start, but once Ivanovic made the first break to lead 4-2 she took almost total control. The Serbians then combined to win the mixed doubles 6-4, 6-7 (8), 10-6. Tomic put Djokovic under pressure right from the start, holding five break points in the opening game. Djokovic survived that threat and held a break point of his own to lead 5-3 but netted a backhand. Tomic then broke serve in the next game with a crosscourt forehand winner and served out the set. He kept up the pressure in the second set, failing to convert a break point to lead 4-3 but won his sixth break point at 5-4 which left him serving for the match, and his first win over Djokovic in four tries. "I played a very, very good match and Im just happy after the training the last few months, that its all coming good and the trainings paying off," Tomic said. "Hard work does pay off. Im still improving but I feel this today was a very good sign. Ive got to continue playing like this." Playing in front of more than 13,000 in the sold-out Perth Arena, Tomic admitted to feeling nervous at the start. "Very difficult to play the first few games," he said. "Its very hard playing against a player like Novak and come out relaxed. But Im happy the way I came out. I was serving really good and the whole match was on my side because my serve was working really well." Djokovic was generous in defeat and conceded that Tomic deserved his victory. "He played really well. He deserved to win," Djokovic said. "I knew I was coming here to Australia really late and it still takes time for me to get used to it. "But Im not taking anything from his win. He played terrific. Hes in great form. I was always on the back foot and he was the better player." Earlier, Italy came from behind to beat Germany 2-1. Francesca Schiavone staged a fightback to defeat Tatjana Malek 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and level the tie for Italy after Tommy Haas resisted a solid challenge and defeated Andreas Seppi 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7). Italy then won the doubles 6-4, 7-5. On Thursday, the United States team of John Isner and Venus Williams plays the Spanish pairing of Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues for a place in Saturdays final. Australia also face Italy. Cheap Jerseys From China . An offence that had been so-so was going to have to get along without its best hitter for about a month. How have the Reds responded? With one of the best surges in franchise history. Cheap MLB Jerseys . -- Ontarios Glenn Howard is heading back to the Canadian mens curling championship. http://www.azulvirtual.org/hot.html . -- The Texas Rangers figure theyll be just fine if they keep focusing on themselves.NEW YORK -- David Ortiz has had his walking boot removed, and the Boston Red Sox slugger is testing his strained right Achilles by taking batting practice before the game against the New York Yankees. Ortiz has been out since July 17 and he said Friday he was going "all in" by taking BP on the field instead of starting with the tee or in the cage. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednnesday.dddddddddddd Ortiz was leading the struggling Red Sox with a .316 average, 23 homers and 58 RBIs when he was injured. Boston is 3-6 since he last played and has fallen back below .500 at 49-50. Manager Bobby Valentine said Ortiz is on track to return when his rehab stint is over. The Red Sox designated hitter said hes not sure if hell be ready because "every day is different." ' ' '