Denis Istomin prevails over Michael Llodra in the first round – AEGON International 2012
World number 41, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, advanced to the last 16, after toppling the 52nd ranked, Michael Llodra, in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round at the AEGON International in Eastbourne on Tuesday.
The Uzbek took just an hour and five minutes to undo his French opponent in a one sided encounter.
Istomin did not allow the Frenchman to settle down, as he claimed breakthrough in the opening game and held his next serve to take a 2-0 lead. The Uzbek did not allow Llodra to get back into the set till its end, triumphing 6-4.
The 25-year-old bombarded four aces and 65 percent of the first serves, converting 16 of the 20 of them into points. The Moscow, Russia resident also performed brilliantly on the second deliveries and returns, as he snatched seven
of the 11 and four of the seven points on them respectively. The Uzbek evaded all the four break threats he came across and availed one of the four chances he received in the opener.
The second set was started stably by both players, as they did not allow each other to break serve in the first four games and levelled the score at 2-2. Istomin struck in the fifth and held his subsequent serve to attain a 4-2
lead. Serving to stay in the contest at 3-5, Llodra went down 15-40 but saved two match points to take the score to Deuce. The Frenchman received a game point after that but wasted it. Llodra faced another match point later on and this time he failed to save
it, losing the second set 3-6.
Istomin banged in five aces but also committed a couple of double faults. He kept his first serve percentage at 78 and won 16 of the 18 points on them. The Uzbek fared poorly on the second deliveries, as he lost four of the five
points on them. However, the right-hander did not give any break opportunity to Llodra and capitalised on two of the six of his own.
The Uzbek improved to a 19-18 win/loss record in this year. He made an impressive start to the season, reaching the last eight at the Brisbane International. The 6ft 2in tall gave his best showing at the SAP Open, where he advanced
to the title match, losing to Milos Raonic.
Istomin will lock horns with the second seed, Marcel Granollers, in the second round.
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