MELBOURNE: Six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has been upset in a shocking second-round loss to Uzbek wild-card Denis Istomin.
Djokovic was aiming to be the first man to win the Australian title seven times, and had won all his previous six head-to-head meetings against Istomin.
It was destined to be a long afternoon on Rod Laver Arena for Djokovic, though, when he needed 24 serves and a quarter of an hour to hold in the first game on Thursday.
After 4 hours and 48 minutes, he sent a service return long to give Istomin a 7-6 (8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win.
No. 117-ranked Istomin, who dropped out of the top 100 last year, had never beaten a top 10 player at a Grand Slam tournament. His only previous win in 33 matches against a top 10 player was back in 2012 at Indian Wells, when he beat No. 5 David Ferrer.
"It is the biggest win for me. It means so much," Istomin said. "Now I feel I can play with these guys, and to be with them on the same level."
Djokovic had won five of the previous six titles at Melbourne Park.