Denis Istomin booked a place in Australian Open 2017

Uzbekistan’s first seeded tennis player, Denis Istomin participated in the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off as a qualification round for the Australian Open 2017.  

In the semifinal singles competition, Denis Istomin struggled India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran to secure a place in the final. Istomin finished the first set in his favour - 6:2, but having received the initial advantage he lost the opportunity of confidently won of Indian tennis player.

Gunneswaran changed the tactics of the game in the second set and able to win the second set with a score – 1-6.  And, the game continued on in a tiebreaker. In the last minutes of the game, Denis Istomin demonstrated a high pace game and managed to ensure a victory over Prajnesh Gunneswaran with an 11:9 score.

In the second semifinals, Korean Duck Hee Lee faced off with China’s Di Wu and the game was over with a victory of Duck Hee Lee - 6:2, 5:7, 7:5.

Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin and South Korea’s Duck Hee Lee battled for a ticket for the first tournament of “Grand Slam” season will be held in Australia next year.

In the last stage of Asia-Pacific play-offs, Denis Istomin defeated 18-year-old Duck Hee Lee in both sets with 7:5, 6:1 during 81 minutes. At the end, Uzbekistan’s experienced tennis player won the title and booked his ticket for the first tournament of Grand Slam which will be 33^rd Grand Slam appearance of him.