Novak Djokovic Out Of Australian Open

 

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, recorded the biggest win of his career and boosted Andy Murray's chances of winning his first Grand Slam Down Under.

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.