Istomin stuns defending champ Djokovic

Defending champion Novak Djokovic was sensationally knocked out in the second round of the Australian Open by unheralded Uzbek Denis Istomin in a major shock on Thursday.

The 117th-ranked Istomin ousted the six-time winner 7-6 (10/8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in 4hr 48min on Rod Laver Arena.

It was the world number two’s earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon 2008, when he was beaten by Marat Safin in the second round. It was also Djokovic’s only second loss to a player outside the top 100 in seven years, after his defeat to 145th-ranked Juan Martin del Potro at last year’s Rio Olympics.

“He played obviously above his level. You got to give him credit for that,” Djokovic said. 

Istomin, who got into the main draw as the winner of the Asia wildcard play-off in December, said it was the high point of his playing career. “It is the biggest win for me, and it means so much,” Istomin said, struggling with the emotions of his achievement. “So now I can feel that I can play with these guys and to be with them on the same level.” He added: “I feel sorry for Novak. I was playing so good today (Thursday). I mean, I also surprised myself today (Thursday).”

Serbia’s Djokovic was bidding to win a record seventh Australian Open title and overtake Australian Roy Emerson, who won six in the 1960s.

It was a miserable start to the Grand Slam season for Djokovic, who surrendered his top world ranking to Andy Murray last year and fell to second in the world for the first time since June 2014.

Istomin played at an extraordinary level from the opening game, which took 16 minutes — signalling the impending struggle for Djokovic.

Istomin broke the defending champion’s serve in the seventh game before Djokovic broke back in the following game as the marathon first set went to a tiebreaker.

Djokovic had two set points but it was Istomin who grabbed the set 10-8, ending an 85-minute struggle.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion had more early problems when he clutched his left hamstring after stretching for a volley in the third game of the second set, and called for the trainer at the next changeover.

Istomin held two set points at 5-4 for a two-love lead but Djokovic fought them off and broke the Uzbek in the next game before levelling the match after almost two-and-a-half hours.

He was too strong in the final set, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the fifth game and admirably handling the pressure to serve it out. He only needed the first of his two match points to claim victory when Djokovic’s return of service went over the baseline.

Istomin will now meet Spanish 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round.

On the other hand, Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal defeated Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in the second round of the Australian Open here on Thursday.

Nadal managed to win the match in two hours and 13 minutes. Ninth seed and 2009 champion Nadal dominated 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis in a superb performance of attacking tennis. The Spaniard will play against German Alexander Zverev in the third round, who eliminated the American Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.

Third-seeded Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic on Thursday advanced to the third round of Australian Open defeating Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Raonic will now take on Gilles Simon, who beat Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

World No.2 Serena Williams on Thursday gritted out a 6-3, 6-4 second round win in a high-quality encounter against Lucie Safarova in the Australian Open tennis tournament here.

The second seeded American, eyeing her seventh title here, smashed 15 aces and 35 winners in the 86-minute clash against the Czech Republican.

The match featured a combined 59 winners and 23 aces to just 39 errors.

Next up for the American is compatriot Nicole Gibbs in round three.