DJOKOVIC OUT OF BRISBANE

WORLD No.3 Novak Djokovic's Australian Open defence plans have been shredded after he listlessly fell to a stunning defeat in his first round match at the Brisbane International this afternoon.

Djokovic gave a thin smile of resignation as he walked off before a stunned Pat Rafter Arena crowd with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat by rising Latvian Ernests Gulbis.

The Serbian paid the price for a late arrival in Brisbane so he could spend a rare New Year's Eve at home in Monte Carlo and now has 13 days to ready himself for a Melbourne Park title defence.

Djokovic conceded on Monday that his Saturday arrival had been cutting it fine, but he thought he had "just enough" training in him for his season-opening tournament.