Denis Istomin bags 2nd round qualifier against Radu Albot – Kremlin Cup 2011
Denis Istomin, Russian world No.62, playing the 2nd round qualifier of the Kremlin Cup 2011 against Radu Albot, 21-year-old world No.261 moved ahead in the qualifying draw after ousting the lower ranked Moldavian with
an astonishing comeback winner, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 34 minutes blue hard circuit match.
Playing on the indoor hard courts of the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia, the two played their second head-to-head fixture where Istomin marked his second win against the Moldavian in an exciting comeback. Previously, the two
came face-to-face in the quarter-final match of Samarkand Challenger.
Firing up with the first set, Albot opened up the first set and rolled down the scoreboard, 1-0. Istomin followed with triple game point win to level up the scores, 1-1. Serving out game 3, the 21-year-old scored another win and
led the set, 2-1, however the higher ranked Russian levelled the score at two games each in no time.
Winning games next on respective serves, the two levelled up again at 3-3 and then at 4-4 before Albot jolted a winner. Serving out game 9, the world No.261 broke the 25-year-old world No.62, to capture the first set, 6-4, and
lead the match, 1-0.
Istomin, struggling to counter his opponent in the first set, came right back up in the second. With the two starting up the second set slowly, levelling up at 1-1, 2-2 and then at 3-3, Istomin fired up as he broke the lower ranked
Moldavian and took the lead, 4-3. Serving out the next, world No.62 kept bagging winners before he finished off winning the set, 6-3, and levelling up the match scores 1-1.
With the scores now at level, the two went out to battle out the final set with Istomin serving out the starter with a fiery triple game point winner, 1-0. Albot replied with a double game point win and levelled up the set scores,
1-1.
Rallying down winners, the two levelled up again, 2-2, before Istomin repeated the second set beating. Serving out game 5, Istomin smashed a breakpoint, game 6, to lead the set, 4-2. With just 2 more games left to enter the final
qualifier, the 25-year-old finished up with a super serve-n-break winner bagging the set 6-2, and the match with a remarkable comeback.
Through into the final qualifier, Istomin now goes onto play against Serbian international, Dusan Lajovic, for a spot in the main draw of the event.
Tags: