Brisbane, Australia (My Sportsbook) - Top-seeded and world No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia was beaten Tuesday by up-and-coming Latvian Ernests Gulbis in first-round action at the $484,750 Brisbane International.

Djokovic, who finished No. 3 for a second straight season in 2008, has won an Aussie title last two years. He is the reigning Australian Open champion and captured this tournament in Adelaide in 2007.

Djokovic won the previous two meetings against Gulbis, last year in the quarterfinals at the French Open and in the quarters at ATP World Tour Masters in Cincinnati. But on Tuesday he was no match for Gulbis in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat.

Gulbis, who compiled a breakout season in 2008 as he finished a year-end best No. 53, will next face Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych defeated Australian wild card Brydan Klein, 6-0, 6-4.

Other first-round winners Tuesday at the 2009 season-opening ATP World Tour event were Croatia's Mario Ancic, France's Florent Serra and Japan's Kei Nishikori.

Brisbane serves as a tune-up for the Aussie Open, which will commence January 19 in Melbourne.