That day when Denis Istomin was too strong for the AO GOAT at AO!
- Thread starter Yugram
- Start date
Atennisone
Hall of Fame
Dare say this victory was actually more important, historical than winning the title. 
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
And the funny thing is, Djokovic here (unlike 2015 Nadal) was actually coming to AO in great form, after beating Murray in Doha.
Yugram
Legend
Yeah. As great as Djokovic’s achievements are at AO, we should not forget shameful losses to Istomin, Chung, Tsonga, Safin (while being bageled, too), and even... *******!Dare say this victory was actually more important, historical than winning the title.
Big shadow on the supposed tournament’s GOAT.
Nadal_Django
Legend
Yes. It was a great win for the Uzbek no 1 player that day.
zagor
Bionic Poster
Yeah. As great as Djokovic’s achievements are at AO, we should not forget shameful losses to Istomin, Chung, Tsonga, Safin (while being bageled, too), and even... *******!
Big shadow on the supposed tournament’s GOAT.
The loss to Safin is especially bad indeed.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Yes. It was a great win for the Uzbek no 1 player that day.
Istomin was in great form that event, remember his match against Dimitrov, who was also in crazy form that event? That one was quality also.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Totally shameful loss, that one to Safin. The same Safin who went onto to beat peak Federer a few rounds later.
Nadal_Django
Legend
Yeah it was a great match. Istomin missed a huge opportunity to go 2-0 in sets against the in form Dimitrov that day.
Yugram
Legend
I’m not buying the Safin propaganda, sorry.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
So weird that Istomin did it of all people. Istomin, Querrey and Ceccinato are such random losses.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Yes, and that same Dimitrov then pushed Nadal all the way in the semis. So these guys, which include Isomtin were playing some serious ball that event. Had Istomin got past Dimitrov he was making it to Nadal at the very least in the semis. Djokovic losing to him, when you look at the bigger picture isn't as bad as some may think, add to this Djokovic was looking burnt out, and that Doha 2017 final against Murray, plus the multiple MPs saved against Verdasco did take something out of him. He pushed too hard before AO, but in his mind, he needed to stop Murray's momentum, who was winning all the titles up to that point and both were expected to play the AO final also....
I’m not buying the Safin propaganda, sorry.
And what is the propaganda? What have I missed?
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Yugram
Legend
He is cool and edgy so we will praise him at all costs. On twitter, Safin even was declared the highest peak level at US Open EVER, lol! 80% of voters probably didn’t even watch that match against Sapmras, they just know it’s SaFiN.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Atennisone
Hall of Fame
Nolucky Djluckyvic is a finished player and here's WHY
1) Threatens to leave the tour if he has to quarantine
2) Ghosts in big games and relies on opponents weak mentality
3) Lost 6-0 twice to Nadal
4)Mickey mouse Grand Slams and No.1
5)Fake Injury
Not top 600 in my book
1) Threatens to leave the tour if he has to quarantine
2) Ghosts in big games and relies on opponents weak mentality
3) Lost 6-0 twice to Nadal
4)Mickey mouse Grand Slams and No.1
5)Fake Injury
Not top 600 in my book
Born_to_slice
Legend
Nolucky Djluckyvic is a finished player and here's WHY
1) Threatens to leave the tour if he has to quarantine
2) Ghosts in big games and relies on opponents weak mentality
3) Lost 6-0 twice to Nadal
4)Mickey mouse Grand Slams and No.1
5)Fake Injury
Not top 600 in my book
zagor
Bionic Poster
And it was a peak 16 year old Novak, getting destroyed like that. Not sure how anyone can call this guy the AO GOAT.
Pummeling Fed 12-1 in sets in the 4 victories he had over him makes up for those lossesYeah. As great as Djokovic’s achievements are at AO, we should not forget shameful losses to Istomin, Chung, Tsonga, Safin (while being bageled, too), and even... *******!
Big shadow on the supposed tournament’s GOAT.
Safin beat a 9 time and a 6 time champ in the same tournament
Hitman
Bionic Poster
zagor
Bionic Poster
They don't call him the Russian Demi-God for nothing.
he beat wawrinka in qualifyingIn his very first slam, right?
zagor
Bionic Poster
In his very first slam, right?
Lol, yeah. Pretty sure it was.
D
Deleted member 771911
Guest
Memorable win. One of those that make you sit up and go 'really?!'
RaulRamirez
Legend
Upsets happen in all sports for a variety of reasons, including this tiny factor: They are human beings.
I guess that Novak will have to find small (AO) consolation in his 82-8 record and 9 titlles, including 8 of the last 11.
Outside of Rafa at RG, who has been better at any slam?
I guess that Novak will have to find small (AO) consolation in his 82-8 record and 9 titlles, including 8 of the last 11.
Outside of Rafa at RG, who has been better at any slam?
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Funny to see a person who hypes 2015 Nadal, yet brings down Djokovic.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Istomin was just too good. No one could have beaten him that tournament.
I remember reading about Istomin's backstory when he was drawn to play Federer in the 1st round of the 2006 AO. I was a big admirer of him for his doggedness and recovery from his serious car crash as a junior player, with him suffering serious leg injuries and not picking up a racket for 2 years. Doctors feared he would never play again and he was considering quitting, with his mother encouraging him to keep at it. The fact that he established a pro career in the first place was an excellent achievement, and I was delighted for him when he won his first ATP title in 2015.
On a side note, Seppi vs. Istomin at the majors was certainly an epic rivalry:
2012 Wimbledon 1st round: Istomin def. Seppi 6-7(2) 6-4 3-6 6-3 8-6
2013 Australian Open 2nd round: Seppi def. Istomin 7-6(4) 5-7 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2
2013 Wimbledon 1st round: Seppi def. Istomin 7-6(6) 7-6(3) 5-7 3-6 6-3
2013 US Open 3rd round: Istomin def. Seppi 6-3 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-1
2015 Australian Open 1st round: Seppi def. Istomin 5-7 6-3 2-6 6-1 6-4
On a side note, Seppi vs. Istomin at the majors was certainly an epic rivalry:
2012 Wimbledon 1st round: Istomin def. Seppi 6-7(2) 6-4 3-6 6-3 8-6
2013 Australian Open 2nd round: Seppi def. Istomin 7-6(4) 5-7 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2
2013 Wimbledon 1st round: Seppi def. Istomin 7-6(6) 7-6(3) 5-7 3-6 6-3
2013 US Open 3rd round: Istomin def. Seppi 6-3 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-1
2015 Australian Open 1st round: Seppi def. Istomin 5-7 6-3 2-6 6-1 6-4
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
The court looks slower than it was this year
How you like that crispness?
Yeah. As great as Djokovic’s achievements are at AO, we should not forget shameful losses to Istomin, Chung, Tsonga, Safin (while being bageled, too), and even... *******!
Big shadow on the supposed tournament’s GOAT.
Ridiculous! Istomin and Chung were in post-'16 funk! You might recall he needed elbow surgery in early '18, to fix what was ailing him! The other three were in his formative years, before his championship runs!
I say losing to a fellow ATG in the finals of your favorite Slam 3 times, is much more of a bad mark! Because being in the Slam finals necessitated being near the top of your game!
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
You really gonna count Safin?Yeah. As great as Djokovic’s achievements are at AO, we should not forget shameful losses to Istomin, Chung, Tsonga, Safin (while being bageled, too), and even... *******!
Big shadow on the supposed tournament’s GOAT.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic won just 3 games in this match.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
It wasn't.
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
I thought Djokovic was finished after that Ceccinato loss. A month later he, IMO, unexpectedly wins Wimby.
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
It was his first GS lol. He was 17.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
This does make me believe in the rigging of draws more and more.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
If 2015 Nadal was peak then 2005 Djokovic was too. No excuses here. When Nadal played his first RG he won the title, not won 3 games in the first round.
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
I think it's pretty obvious it was. At the very least the bounce was higher. Compare the Istomin match to this match this year
Both are day matches on RLA.
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
I never said 2015 Nadal was peak.
And when Nadal played his first RG it wasn't his first slam and he was 19 years old by then. Djokovic was 17.
Nadal_Django
Legend
In 2015 Nadal was 14 time Slam Champ, and 9 time FO champion. 2005 AO was Djokovic's first Slam appearance. Definitely not the same.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Well, this thread was made as a response to Djokovic fans once again bringing their usual BS about peak 2015 Nadal. Which is why @Yugram mentioned AO 2005 too.
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
Both are ridiculous. However, 2015 Nadal is still a better tennis player than 2005 Djokovic.
It's interesting that such a match-up as Seppi-Istomin can produce so many good matches. I've actually seen them play live and it was an entertaining three-set tussle, with Istomin taking the match in a third set tiebreak, but I didn't know they had a history at the time.
The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
Such a weird loss since less than 2 weeks earlier Joker beat ATG MurrayGOAT in a thrilling 3 setter in Doha. Who’d have guessed that’d be their last match.
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
lmaoDare say this victory was actually more important, historical than winning the title.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Federer needs to thank Istomin for that title.
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