Down goes Novak Djokovic.
For the second time in their last seven installments of the Australian Open, someone other than Djokovic will lift the winner’s trophy. The defending champion and No. 2 seed was knocked out in stunning fashion by Denis Istomin on Thursday afternoon in Melbourne. Istomin started strong and finished even more impressively to produce a hard-to-believe 7-6(8), 5-6, 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 upset after four hours and 50 minutes.
The unheralded Uzbek did not even earn direct entry into the main draw of this event and had to win the Asia Pacific Wild-Card Playoff to get in. During that event Istomin saved four match points against someone named Prajnesh Gunneswaran.
Djokovic sure wishes Istomin hadn’t.
Playing the match of his life from completely out of nowhere, the world No. 117 fired 17 aces and finished with more winners than errors (63 to 61) against arguably the best defender in the sport. Istomin won seven fewer total points (186 to 193) but took both tiebreakers and delivered three clutch holds after breaking Djokovic for a 3-2 lead in the fifth set.
“It is unreal,” Istomin assured. “To beat Novak in five sets, it’s a great win. I didn’t expect what I’m doing now and what I did on the court. Actually, if you don’t think that you have a chance, then (there’s) no reason to come on court.
“I would say, ‘Are you crazy or what,” Istomin added after being asked what he would say if someone told him at the start of this season that he would beat Djokovic at the Australian Open. “Especially in five sets, for sure. For me, (it) was impossible to think about that I can hold it (for) five sets with Novak, physically and mentally. So I did well today.”
“All the credit to Denis for playing amazing,” Djokovic commented. “He deserved to win. No doubt, he was a better player in the clutch moments. He stepped it up, played aggressive, served very well, very precise. There’s not much I could do. Of course, I was not pleased with my performance overall. But I have to congratulate my opponent today.”
Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJCn5lfhOj4
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