Denis Istomin outlasts Evgeny Korolev in opening rubber – Davis Cup WG Play-off 2012
Uzbekistani number one, Denis Istomin, laboured past Kazakhstan’s Evgeny Korolev, in a five-set nail-biter at the Davis Cup World Group Play-off 2012 on Friday. He recorded a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 victory against the local contender at the National Tennis
Centre in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Istomin showed top quality tennis to outsmart Korolev for the first time in their third encounter. After stealing the limelight, the Uzbek improved to a 2-1 lifetime in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head Series against the world
number 259 and led his nation take an early lead.
The former Top 50, Korolev reflected about the match in a courtside interview:
“Denis is a great player and very tough to beat if you’re not on every point there, which is what happened in the fifth set. I tried my best but somewhere I lost concentration and focus and he was there. It’s a long time since I played a player like this.
It was my first five-set match since the 2010 Australian Open. That was the last year I played really well. I’m sad that I lost here and had the opportunity to play a little bit better, but it gives me hope that I have a good chance to come back.”
The 26-year-old comfortably stepped into the red clay courts. He drew the first blood in the fourth game and jumped to a 4-1 lead. Istomin swiped his remaining serves with poise and clicked the opener with a 6-3 win.
Korolev made a fitting reply in the following set and after breaking the Uzbek’s serve in the sixth game, he leaped to a 5-2 lead. Apart from losing his serve in the ninth game, the Kazakh got the breakthrough in the very next game and clinched the set with
a 6-4 score line.
Ranked 34th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Istomin sought his rhythm again in the third set. After Korolev held his serve in the third game, the Uzbek reeled off five games in a row and pocketed the set with a 6-2 success.
Currently ranked 259th in the world, Korolev went berserk in the proceeding set. He re-ignited his old spark and winded up all six games, eventually pulling out the equalizer with a bagel.
In the final set, Istomin re-gained his strength. He bagged the last four games and sealed the decider with a 6-3 win.
In the second singles rubber, Mikhail Kukushkin earned the glory after triumphing over Farrukh Dustov. As a result, he led Kazakhstan to level the scores against the visiting nation.
Tags: