Uzbek pair of Istomin-Inoyatov lift doubles crown

Issued by Media Team
Tashkent Challenger 2009

Tashkent October 17: Second seeded Denis Istomin will clash third seeded Marcos  Baghdatis  in the  finals of the Men’ singles at the          $1, 25,000 Tashkent Challenger, an ATP Challenger series event being played at the Olympic tennis Stadium.In the semi finals played today third seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis stopped the winning run of Ukrainian Oleaksandr Dolgopolov Jr.7-6(7-3),6-4 in a 1hr 34 minute tussle , while Local hero and second seeded Denis Istomin stormed into his first ATP Challenger final of the year cutting short the progress of Slovakian Lukas Lacko 7-5,6-3 in 1 hrs and 16 minutes.

It was a great day for Istomin who teamed up Murad Inoyatov to outplay the  pair of  Czech player Jiri Krkoska and Slovakian Lukas Lacko 7-6(4), 6-4 to win the doubles crown and put himself in line for a coveted double crown.

Local boy Denis Istomin watched by his ‘Greatest fan’ his grandmother played perfect tennis to stop the winning run of Lukas Lacko  to make it to his first final at the ATP Challenger event of the year.

Cheered by a large home crowd, Istomin was broken in the very first game of the match, but the wiry Uzbek broke back in the 4th game to level scores.  Lacko looked like regaining his touch from yesterday as he broke Istomin in the 9th game to take 5-4 lead. But Istomin played consistently to break back Lacko in the 10th game and gain in the 12th game to take the first set.

In the second set Istomin served a high 76% first serves giving Lacko only 5 points on his service games. Istomin played a brilliant 8th game to break the Slovak Davis Cupper and then held on his service game in the 9th game to enter the final.

“I’m happy to be in the finals and happy to have gone past the semifinals round finally, I played good tennis and didn’t want to play a long match today” said Istomin after the match.

“I’m feeling good, the courts and balls are fast for me but I’m finding solutions to winning matches in these conditions, which is good for me” said Baghdatis once ranked in the top 10 on the ATP ranking list.

Baghdatis showed tremendous character in saving 3 breakpoints in the second game of the first set, Both Dolgopolov and Baghdatis played  entertaining tennis to hold on to their serves which forced a tiebreak . Baghdatis made all use of his experience to outplay the young Ukrainian   7-3 in the tiebreak and pocket the first set.

In the second set Dolgopolov broke Baghdatis in the 3rd game after 5 deuces, but Baghdatis immediately broke his opponent in the 4th game to level scores. Both the players again traded breaks in the 7th and 8th games to level scores at 4-4. Baghdatis served an ace in the 9th game to hold on and take a 5-4 lead.

In the 10th game Dologoplov scored a double fault giving the Cypriot  a match point for the fourth time, Baghdatis seized an opportunity and hit a down the line winner to take the set 6-4 and make it to the third Challenger final of the year. Baghdatis served 9aces in the match.

The finals will be played 2pm Tashkent time, with the winner receiving 110 ATP points and $18,000, and the runners up getting 65 ATP points and $10,600.

Denis Istomin won his second consecutive title at the ATP challenger , having won in Belgium last week the Uzbek star teamed up with Davis cup mate Murad Inayatov to outplay the pair of Lacko and Krokoska 7-6(4),6-4 and win the doubles trophy and the Uzbek national dress . The winners received $7750 and 110 ATP points, while runners up had to be content with 45 ATP points and $ 4500.

The prizes were given away at the hands of the deputy Mayor of Tashkent Mr. Nizamiddin Bhaktiyarov  and Mr. S Uthrapathy Tournament director.

Following are the results (Semi finals)

S.3 Marcos Baghdatis(Cyp) bt Oleksandr DolgopolovJr.(Ukr) 7-6(3),6-4
S.2 Denis Istomin (Uzb)   bt Lukas Lacko ( Svk)   7-5,6-3

Doubles (Finals)

Denis Istomin/ Murad Inoyatov (Uzb)  bt  Jiri Krkoska ( Cze) /LukasLacko(Svk) 7-6(4),6-4

By Sunder Iyer
Tashkent Challenger
Media Team

Marcos Baghdatis, made it to the third Challenger final of the year reaching the finals at Tashkent Challenger without losing a set so far. Having seen the best times and worst times on the Men’s Professional Tour, Baghdatis candidly shares his views with the media team on various issues.

Q. Marcos, Congratulations on your third final and it’s great to have you with us, your thoughts on your performance so far?
Marcos:  I’m happy to be doing well in spite of the tough conditions against me. Basically the courts are fast and the balls are hard and it doesn’t suit my game, I’m happy that I’m winning matches finding solutions to these problems and winning which is very good.

Q. You’ve not lost a set so far, and seemed playing solid tennis?
Marcos:  I can tell you this is not my best tennis, the conditions are not in my favour, I’m just playing 45% of my game, but am happy that I’m learning to counter these conditions.

Q.  It’s been a rough period in terms of your health, your tennis you’re ranking in the past year?
Marcos: My game depends on my physique, I had lot of pains for a last year and a half and suffered many injuries, which lead to me being out for some time. But now I’m fighting very hard to make a come back and the last 3 months have been good. I have a new coach who is working on the mental side of tennis. He’s thought me to think positive everyday. My game is coming back and I won 2 challengers in the last 3 months and played a good match against Nadal recently. “ I’ve learnt to try and control what I can and leave out things which are not in my control” this thought process is certainly helping me.

Q. We’ve all seen you during the week as a serious and committed player with a sense of purpose off court, which is in contrast to your personality on court?
Marcos:  Smiles, yes on court I’m a live person, having fun, laughing but off the court.  I’ve always been a committed and focused tennis player since I was 14 year old. I’ve left my house my country to train and this was a huge responsibility on me. I worked hard, went to bed early, got up early as I had to take a 1 hour train journey to the place of practice every morning. All this has certainly taught me to give my 100% and sometimes more in whatever I do.

 Q. What keeps Marcos Baghdatis going, and what would you like to tell young tennis players trying to make a career in tennis?
Marcos:  Be positive, it’s a matter of character wanting more than the other person .Getting up in the morning and wanting, wanting, and wanting more and more from whatever one does.  Sometimes you give a lot to sport, a lot, but the sport doesn’t give the same back to you like in my case I’ve been in the sport since the age of 10, but am still not getting the results, rankings I want. But one should learn not to get disappointed and give up. One should keep giving the best and want the best and that is my secret and my message.

Q. What is your immediate objective?
Marcus: I want to finish in the top 70 by the year end so can play at the bigger events. One can set objectives easily if in the top 10 or top 15 as one can expect easy couple of rounds. For others it is luck of draw because one might just end up playing Federer or Nadal in the very first round as one cannot control the draws. My priority is to play and win every match I play

Q.  You are out of the top bracket, but continue to have fans who like you like here in Tashkent?
Marcos: I want to thank my fans for the love they have shown me and the love for my game. I’m honored to be here in Tashkent and happy to know I have fans here too. I like the people and the culture and the tournament here. I’ve played here before

Q. Traveling so much, do you have time to pursue any hobbies?
Marcos: It’s difficult to have hobbies, as I travel a lot. I like soccer and play it when I’m home. I like to hang out with my friends whenever I go back home. But I like to be spend time with my parents, drinking coffee with them and sharing an occasional cigar.

 Q. Any thoughts on the finals tomorrow?
Marcos: Denis is a good player and has played grand slams this year, I’m playing him at home and he knows the conditions well and the courts. If he has to win he has to play better than me tomorrow, as I’m going to give everything I have.

By Sunder Iyer
Tashkent Challenger
Media Team

Ranked 144 this week Lukas Lacko of Slovakia recorded the biggest upset of the day accounting for  fourth seeded and 93rd ranked Christophe Rochus  . Lacko who started the year at 350 , is probably one of the few players on the circuit to have played, Futures, Challenger , Tour Event and at a Grand Slam event . He spoke to the media team after his win.  

Q.  Congratulations on a great  win, you looked unstoppable  today ?
Lukas: It was my day today, I felt good since the warm up. I knew I was going to win from the first point, it is one of those days that you know everything is right. I’m happy it happened today and hope it continues till the end of the tournament.

Q.  What do you think was the difference between you and Rochus today?
Lukas:  The way I moved and hit the balls, I like the balls they are hard and fly a lot. I also served very well; actually Rochus had only one break point on my serve in the whole match. Also Rochus was not serving well and I capitalized on this.

Q. It has been an interesting year for you playing at all levels on the tennis circuit?
Lukas:  Very true , I was injured last year , I played bad  lost around 30 matches , it was terrible year. I was ranked around 130 and the rankings kept falling and it went as low as 350. I had to start all over again.
At the beginning of the year I started playing Futures and won 4 of the 6 Futures I played made 1 semifinal. This got me points to play Challengers, I played well and my ranking just went up, giving me chance to play qualifying of Tour events and grand Slam. I qualified for a Tour event on Grass in Nederland’s and also at Wimbledon this year, completing a perfect cycle.

Q. You skipped the entire clay court season, any reasons?
Lukas:   Right, I skipped the entire clay court season this year, I think I play better on fast surfaces like hard and grass. I love grass and have done well too on both surfaces so it’s okay for me not to have played the clay court events.

 Q. Your next match is against the home favorite Istomin any thoughts?
Lukas: I have played Istomin At Australian Open last year and lost t him in four sets in a four hour match. But all the sets were very close and could have gone either ways. I think he is also playing well, but I have a chance.

Q. Your goals for the year and how near are you to achieving them?
Lukas: This is for the second time I’ve been away around 66 odd points from breaking into the top 100, I could not do it the last time. I’m probably 55 points away from making it to around 100-105 bracket. I want to be there by the end of the year so I can be in main draws of the Grand Slams and Tour events. I have 4-5 more tournaments this year, this time I’m sure to achieve my goals.

Q. You won a Challenger in Uzbekistan and now the last four of the Tashkent Challenger, this country is lucky for you?
Lukas :  Yes, surely looks like , I won the Challenger in Fergana this year, now semifinals in singles and finals in doubles. Also this is my biggest win over high ranked player this year, It is great I think Uzbekistan is a lucky country for me and love playing here , the conditions, the event , the people are really nice.

Ten year old Laylo Bakhodirova, won the  mini- tennis tournament which was held as  a part of the Tashkent Challenger, an ATP Challenger series event Over 100 children from all over Tashkent participated in the children’s day programme . Tournament director S. Uthrapathy gave away the prizes for the event .

Indira Gazeeva from the media team spoke to the winner of the event Laylo after the event.

Q: How long have you been playing tennis, and why did you decide to choose this kind of sport?
A: My Father wanted me to go in for tennis and I like it very much. I spend all my time training, and it is more important for me than my education.

Q: Is it your first win and how do you feel about it?
A: I have already won several children tournaments, but this one is the most important for me, and I feel happy.

Q: Do you have favorite players?
A: My favorites are Dinara Safina and our local star Iroda Tulyaganova I like the way they play and want to be like them when I grow.

Q: Where are you training and who is your coach?
A: I am training at Pakhtakor tennis club, on clay. And my coach is Gulnara Kaharovna.

Q: What is your biggest dream?
A: My biggest dream to win the tournament of the Grand Slam Rolland Garros, I like the tournament and also to represent the country in tennis

Q: Now winning the tournament here what are your future plans?
A: I am going to take part in the competition dedicated to  Ubay Arifov – a great scientist, who has made a big contribution in the development of tennis in Uzbekistan, which are going to start on October, 19.

Issued by Media Team
Tashkent Challenger 2009

Tashkent October 15: Local hero and second seeded Denis Istomin , fourth seeded Christophe Rochus of Belgium , eighth seeded S.8 Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukr) and unseeded Lukas Lacko of Slovakia scored contrasting wins to enter the quarterfinals of the Men' singles at the $1, 25,000 Tashkent Challenger, an ATP Challenger series event being played at the Olympic tennis Stadium.

In the second round of the singles matches played today unseeded Slovakian Lucas Lacko stopped the lucky run of Uzbek lucky looser Arsen Asanov 6-0,6-1 , while fourth seeded Belgian Christophe Rochus scored a easy 7-6(3),6-3 win over qualifier Andrei Gorban of Moldova .

Ukrainian eighth seed Sergiy Stakhovsky outplayed Russian qualifier Konstantin Kravchuk 6-1,6-4 , while second seeded Uzbek Denis Istomin fought off high fever and Kazakhstan's Yuri Schukin 3-6,6-1,6-3 to make it to the last eight.

" I'm relieved to have come through this match , I have been suffering from viral fever for the last couple of days , but I came out to play for my fans and gave whatever I had" said Istomin after his win

In the first set Schukin started strongly breaking Istomin in the 3rd game and then held on to his serve to win the set 6-3.

Istomin seemed to have got back his bearings after a medical break, while Schukin seemed to relax a bit in the second set, Istomin lifted his game to break the Kazakh player in the 4th and 6th games and win the set rather easily 6-1 and force the third set.

In the third set Istomin broke Schukin in the very first game to gain the vital lead , he held on to his service games and once again secured a final break in the 9th game and win the set 6-3 after a1 hr.31 minute tussle

In the quarterfinals tomorrow Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. will take on Alexandre Kudryavtsev, Marcos Baghdatis will take on Andrey Kumantsov in the top half. In the bottom half Istomin will take on Stakhovsky, while Lukas Lacko will take on Christophe Rochus

Following are the results (Second Round Singles)

Lukas Lacko ( Svk) Arsen Asanov (Uzb) 6/0,6/1
S.4 Christophe Rochus ( Bel) Andrei Gorban (Mda) 7/6(3) 6/3
S.8 Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukr) Konstantin Kravchuk (Rus) 6/1 6/4
S.2 Denis Istomin (Uzb) bt Yuri Schukin ( Kaz) 3/6 6/1 6/3

Doubles (Quarterfinals Round)

Rifat Biktyakov / Sarvar Ikramov( Uzb) bt S.1 Sergei Bubka / Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukr) 6/4 6/4

( Semifinals)

Rohan Bopanna (Ind)/ Yen Hsun Lu ( Tpe) Denis Istomin/ Murad Inoyatov (Uzb) 3/6 6/1 10-5