Six-time champion Novak Djokovic has crashed out of the Australian Open after suffering a shock 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4, loss to wildcard entrant Denis Istomin in the second round.
Statistically Djokovic was predicted to breeze through this encounter. Not only is he ranked 115 places higher than Istomin, he has also only dropped one set to the 30-year-old throughout his career, boasting a 5-0 head-to-head lead going into the Melbourne match. Nevertheless, Istomin was able to display the talent which elevated him to a ranking best of 33rd in 2012.
Facing the Uzbek wildcard, Djokovic encountered an inspired displayed from Istomin from the onset. The start of the match saw the defending champion save six break points before holing his first service game, which lasted 16 minutes. Djokovic’s difficult start continued throughout the opening set as his opponent’s ability to hit shots deep to the baseline frustrated him. Trading breaks on route to the opening set tiebreak, the second seed failed to convert two set point chances. Istomin saved the first with the help of a serve out wide before a Djokovic error leveled the tiebreaker at 8-8. Unable to find a way to break the solid play of the wildcard, Istomin calmly clinched the tiebreaker with the help of another speedy serve out wide.
The mood of the six-time champion rapidly changed after dropping the first set. No longer was the Serbian laughing and joking along with his opponent. In danger of experiencing his worst loss in Melbourne since 2006, apprehension struck Djokovic and his camp. Those nerves were illustrated by the number of ball bounces between points by the second seed, which peaked at 29 during one moment. Struggling to maintain a steady composure, a double fault at the worst time gave Istomin a chance for a two-set lead before Djokovic triumphantly clawed his way back to level 5-5. Capitalizing on his mini comeback, he finally generated some match momentum in his favor after breaking in the following game with the help of a cross-court backhand winner before leveling the match after two-and-a-half hours.
Attempting to Weather the Istomin Storm, Djokovic finally managed to grab that eagerly anticipated lead as his rival started to show signs of fatigue. This week is the first non-Challenger event played by the world No.117 since the US Open last September. Steamrolling towards a two-sets lead, three consecutive breaks of the Istomin serve allowed a more relaxed Djokovic to exert his supremacy on the court, dictating his opponent during rallies on route to a two-set lead.
Still contending with some fierce resistance from across the court, the defending champion recovered from a 1-4 deficit to move to 4-4 in the fourth set. Djokovic then battled to deny an inspired Istomin a set point when a tentative rally concluded with an error from the wildcard. Still, it was not enough to tame the spirits of the underdog. Roared on by the animated crowd, Istomin raced to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreaker before eventually forcing a decider with an ace out wide.
Heading into the decider, many expected the six-time champion to still prevail in the epic encounter. It was an expectation that failed to curb the belief of Istomin, a player who has never progressed beyond the fourth round at a grand slam. A backhand down the line secured the break for 3-2 as the Melbourne crowd prepared themselves for a massive shock. Approaching the biggest win of his career, a love service game elevated Istomin to a game away from victory before another straightforward service display two games later secured the upset.
“I feel sorry for Novak, I was playing so good today.” An emotional Istomin joked during his on-court interview.
“I surprised myself today.”
“It was tough, since the third set I had cramp in my leg, I don’t know how I held it (together). I was physically normal today.” He added.
The fairytale win for Istomin comes 16 years after he broke his leg, which sidelined him from tennis for two years. Since turning pro in 2001, the Uzbek has only won one ATP title at the 2015 Nottingham Open.
“It is the biggest win for me and it means so much. Now I feel I can play with these guys and to be with them on the same level.” He said.
Istomin will play Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round.
