TENNIS – Current world number 92 Denis Istomin won his first ATP World Tour event today upsetting higher ranked Sam Querrey 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6) at the sell out Aegon Open event in Nottingham. Jonny Fraser and Mike James
Having met six times before, twice on grass, it was the third time lucky for the Uzbek player losing his previous two ATP 250 final matches. With both players holding serves comfortably during the initial exchanges the first break point opportunities were given to Querrey towards the end of the first set. With Istomin managing to find first serves during important moments the first set entered a tie break which the Uzbek player took comfortably 7-1.
As the second set continued it was apparent that Istomin was beginning to read the Querrey serve whilst finding an excellent rhythm often out rallying his opponent from the baseline. Breaking Querrey twice to take a 5-2 lead the American needed to vary his game to bring himself back into the match. Saving one match point, the change in game plan using the net more and beginning to strike through his forehand Querrey found himself with a double break back at 5-5.
With momentum in the match changing and the crowd sensing a third set Istomin held strong to take the match into a second tie break. With more aggressive play the American took a 5-1 lead in the tie break however a miraculous run of points by Istomin put the pressure back on with Querrey serving against a second match point. A big serve saved Querrey from defeat for the second time however this didn’t last long with Istomin converting his third match point to take the match 7-6(1), 7-6 (6).
