Istomin hands Uzbekistan the lead, Sock levels

Istomin had started superbly, breaking serve in Johnson’s first service game as the American’s attacking game faltered into standard forehand errors, a sign of things to come. Istomin consolidated with strong serving extended his lead further with a double break for five-one, as Johnson  committed twenty unforced errors in the set. American captain Jim Courier was left to try and rally a despondent-looking Johnson. Istomin secured he opening set with another comfortable service hold.

Johnson regained his composure in the second set, enjoying a much better read on the Istomin serve, as he won nearly half of the points off of Istomin’s first serve delivery. Johnson was striking a much better balance, dictating rather than pushing the play with his forehand, and this resulted in far more winners than errors. Johnson deservedly levelled the match

The third set was a very finely balanced affair, with both players trying to take the initiatives based on their mutual attacking styles. Both players were now employing the drop-shot more frequently, though Istomin far more successfully than Johnson. Each had opportunities to break near the end of the set. Johnson had two break points at five-all, but was wrong-footed as he tried to second guess the Istomin serve, the Uzbek escaping to stay in front on serve. Istomin very nearly had love-thirty the next game, but a line-call error after a Johnson forehand had tickled the tape saw the umpire quickly off the chair to correct. Johnson then escaped fifteen-thirty to ensure a tiebreak.

The tiebreak proved a close affair, with both players tightening up and relinquishing leads. Istomin lead early at two-love, Johnson at four-three, and Istomin once again at five-four. Istomin finally held both his service points, playing a drop shot on set point that Johnson did not run down. Uzbekistan led two sets to one.

Johnson immediately held and fashioned a break point in Istomin’s service game. However the Uzbek again denied him as Johnson blasted long on a forehand. Istomin then rushed the net, forcing Johnson into two passing errors to level affairs. Johnson quickly found himself in trouble, down love-thirty after a forehand found the tramlines again. Johnson staved off a break point with consecutive aces, mirroring Istomin. Istomin again had a break point in the seventh game after more wild cuts from Johnson, but he missed a second serve return to let the American off the hook. At five-all however, the narrative proved to be the same, except this time there was no escape for the American. A driven forehand volley miss from Johnson handed Istomin break points and he sealed the break to serve for the match.

Johnson gamely stayed with him however, and broke back to thirty, forcing a fourth set tiebreak. Johnson took the early lead in the tiebreak when a forehand cross-court exchange ended with Istomin dumping a groundstroke in the net. Istomin quickly recovered the mini break with a short angle backhand. Johnson earned it straight back however, running wide around to hit a forehand return down the middle near Istomin’s feet, who could only reply long. Johnson then held with a forehand winner down the line and a Istomin error to secure set points. He secured the set with another error from Istomin.

The change in the match was remarkable. Johnson was now dominating and immediately put pressure back on the Istomin serve, holding a break point in the first game. Istomin held but, after a quick hold to love, Johnson secured the break when Istomin missed a backhand volley. Incredibly Istomin and Johnson then traded breaks, the American regaining the lead after finally getting a read on a istomin drop-shot before, drop-volleying to lead again. Istomin broke again though, as a horrible Johnson drop-shot and an unsurprisingly wild forehand  leveled things. A better drop shot in the next game again handed Johnson break points. Both were saved, but Johnson broke from deuce to lead yet again. Johnson endured four break points at four-three but saved them, registering the first hold of serve for either play for five games.

The drama continued when Istomin earned a break point as Johnson served for the match. Johnson stopped play insisting a ball was out. The umpire came down from the chair but after examining the mark, referred Johnson to the original call of in and the match continued. Johnson then unnecessarily smashed wide for an Istomin match point. It was saved but another error resulted in a second. Johnson found the net to hand Uzbekistan the opening rubber.

In the later match, Jack Sock quickly dismissed the challenge of Farrukh Dustov, winning ins straight sets 7-5, 6-3,6-2 in what was his Davis Cup debut. The doubles, taking place on Saturday, is likely to see Querrey/Johnson take on Istomin/Dustov. Querrey/Johnson is a Davis Cup debut partnership in the absence of the Bryan brothers.