Reigning champion Novak Djokovic has suffered a shock defeat at the Australian Open.
The Serbian World number two lost in five set to Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in Melbourne. Istomin, ranked 177th in the World won the final two sets to win 7-6, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Denis the Menace!
World No.117 #Istomin stuns 6-time champ #Djokovic 7-6(8) 5-7 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 in the second round.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/KtWJ2EnAD8
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2017
Djokovic, a six-time winner in Melbourne was looking to win his third Australian Open in a row and his sixth in seven years. It is the first time he has lost in the Second Round of a Grand Slam since losing to Marat Safin at Wimbledon in 2008.
The win is Istomin's biggest of his career. The 30-year-old has competed in 34 previous Grand Slam tournaments, and has only reached the Fourth Round on two occasions, most recently at the 2013 US Open.
Despite losing to his lesser-ranked opponent, Djokovic was quick to praise the winner. "Today Denis was an underdog, but he didn't show any nerves in the big moments... Everything came together for him. It was the right moment, the right day. He was better.
Speaking on court after the biggest win of his career, Istomin struggled to explain his feelings on beating the Serbian star. "Now I can feel that I can play with theses guys and be on the same level", he told the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
Denis Istomin... what a moment! Knocks out Novak #Djokovic in the second round of the #AusOpen! pic.twitter.com/NwI9XHNKS9
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2017
The wildcard will now play the 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the Third Round, while Djokovic will have time to reflect on a missed opportunity to potentially claim another Grand Slam.
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