Dusan Lajovic outplays Denis Istomin in final qualifier – Kremlin Cup 2011
Dusan Lajovic, Serbian world No.239, made the first upset as he defeated world No.62, Denis Istomin in the final qualifier of the Kremlin Cup 2011 on Monday 17th October, in a long fired up two hours and five minutes
match at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia, securing a 6-2, 3-6 7-5 win.
With the two walking down the blue indoor court, Istomin won the toss and took his position to serve out the opener. Winning game one, Russian rolled down the scoreboard, 1-0, switching the serve. Lajovic levelled up next, 1-1,
and ignited.
Breaking the higher ranked, world No.62, in game three, the 21-year-old extended his lead to 2-1 and then to 3-1, winning the following game, game 4. Istomin did cut the lead to 2-3, however, could not break back. Lajovic, world
No.239, served-broke-served next,ending the set with a 6-2 win.
Istomin, in a similar situation as the 2nd qualifier fixture, made a similar return as he opened up set 2. Serving out game 1, Russian 25-year-old fired up set 2, 1-0. Lajovic levelled up the scores winning game 2, and
returned again. With the two levelling up next at, 2-2 and then at 3-3, the world No.62 ignited and broke the lower ranked Serbian, serve-n-break, and led the match, 5-3.
With one more game win left to level up the set scores, Istomin blistered the 9thgame bagging the set, 6-3 forcing the match into a third deciding set.
Serving first for set 3, Lajovic opened up, however, could not counter the vicious returns of the Russian and dropped short. Breaking early, Istomin followed up winning game 2 and extended his lead to two games to zero. Breaking
the Russians command, Lajovic served-n-broke next, levelling up the set scores to 2-2. Extending his lead to 3-2, Serbian went away winning game 5, however, the Russian caught up instantly
The set intensified as both players broke each other and stood level at 4-4. Winning a game each next, 5-5, every prediction was falling apart as Istomin’s win was doubtful. Lajovic bombarded the higher ranked Russian with a super
serve-n-break ending the set 7-5.
With a fabulous performance, the 21-year-old snatched away the main draw seat of the Kremlin Cup 2011, an ATP World Tour 250 event. Through into the main draw, Lajovic needs to put in more to his game as he faces the top ranked
players in the main round.
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