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