SHANGHAI, China -- Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic learned friendship doesn't count for much at the Masters Cup.
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Both lost to buddies Tuesday in the round-robin phase of the season-ending tournament featuring the top eight players. Nadal lost to David Ferrer 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a match between Spaniards. A weary Djokovic lost to Richard Gasquet of France 6-4, 6-2 and was eliminated from contention for the semifinals with one match left in the Gold Group.
In the Red Group, top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 4 Nikolay Daydenko lost their first matches Monday and will play each other Wednesday, followed by Andy Roddick against Fernando Gonzalez.
Nadal, ranked No. 2, said there really are no upsets in this tournament, given the elite field.
"We play against the best always, every match, so anything can happen," Nadal said after his nearly three-hour struggle against Ferrer that divided the loyalties of Spanish fans, who draped national flags around the indoor arena.
"We have a very good relationship," Nadal said. "But when you are on court, you try your best."
Nadal held a 4-2 advantage in head-to-head meetings. Ferrer said his only advantage against the man he called the best player in Spanish history comes when they face off in video games.
"Just in the PlayStation I'm better than him," Ferrer said, laughing.
With Nadal a left-hander, the two men played like mirror images with their preference for the baseline, sharply angled winners and refusal to yield on shots.
Showing little respect for each other's serves, they combined for five breaks in the first set and 11 for the match. Ferrer didn't hold serve until his fourth attempt. Nadal finished off the set on Ferrer's 14th unforced error off his usually reliable forehand.
Ferrer pulled himself together and served for the second set at 5-3, only to be left muttering to himself after Nadal broke at love, the last three points coming on clean winners. But he shrugged it off to break right back the next game to even the match.
From 1-1 in the third set, Ferrer ran off four straight games. With both men breathing hard, Ferrer served for the match, only to see Nadal break and fend off a match point in his next service game to pull within 5-3.
Ferrer then held at love, finishing the match when Nadal tried a drop shot that hung up a little too long, giving Ferrer enough time to smack a backhand crosscourt winner before dropping onto his back in relief.
