Wild card world No 117 Istomin wins five-set thriller to knock out defending champion
Thursday 19 January 2017 23:13, UK
Novak Djokovic's hopes of a record-breaking seventh Australian Open title were shattered by an inspired Denis Istomin in a five-set thriller on Thursday.
The Serb has owned Melbourne Park for almost a decade, but his reign came to an end in the second round, 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
Unheralded Istomin, who had one singles' title to his name, which he won on grass at the Nottingham Open, was forced to play an Asia-Pacific wildcard tournament just to get to the Australian Open after slumping out of the top 100 for the first time since 2010 on the back of a string of injuries last year.
But the journeyman recorded the biggest win of his career in sensational style and boosted Andy Murray's chances of claiming his first title Down Under.
"First of all, I feel sorry for Novak. I was playing so good today," the big-serving Istomin said. "There is so much emotion on my mind right now. It was tough and since the third set I had cramping in my leg.
"I know I can beat these guys now and play tennis at this level."
Djokovic was bidding to win a record seventh title and overtake Australian Roy Emerson, who won six in the 1960s, but a 15-minute opening game signalled his impending struggle when he was forced to save six break points.
Istomin, who hit 63 winners, edged it after a dramatic tie-break and the 30-year-old simply refused to fold when second seed Djokovic hit back to win the second and third sets.
After clinching the fourth on another tie-breaker to send the match into a decider, Istomin made the vital break in the fifth game of the deciding set, then held service the rest of the way in the marathon four hour, 48 minute contest.
It means after winning four consecutive Grand Slams between 2015 and 2016, Djokovic has now gone three tournaments without adding to his tally of 12 major triumphs.
Istomin goes on to face Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round after the Spanish 30th seed ousted Britain's Kyle Edmund earlier in the day.
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