Dubai: Uzbekistan’s top player Denis Istomin is hoping his rise from adversity will help the spread of tennis in his country.
Istomin took little more than an hour and a half to shock fifth seed Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 6-2 on centre court in their Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open first round match on Monday.
The 28-year-old has bounced back in the sport after suffering a serious leg injury in a car accident while travelling to a Futures event in Tashkent in 2001. After surgery, he received 80 stitches and spent three months in hospital, eventually having to spend two years out of tennis.
But he returned in 2003 and is still going strong, with a current world ranking of 65.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Istomin said after beating Gulbis. “I am stronger now, physically and mentally and want to do everything to help tennis grow in my country.
“The good thing is that I am willing to work hard and keep at it, no matter what. I know tennis may not exactly be the best-followed sport in my country. But there are many more people who know me and know what I have achieved now than before. I am willing to do anything to ensure the young kids get the experience of tennis when I am at home.”
Though his career high ranking of No.33 came in mid-August 2012, last season was an impressive one as he finished in the top 50 for a third year in a row and fourth overall after advancing to his eighth and ninth career semi-finals in Duesseldorf and Eastbourne.
He also had quarter-finals at Sydney, Montpellier, Bucharest, Munich and Tokyo. In Grand Slam play, Istomin compiled a 5-4 record, with third round losses at the Australian Open and Wimbledon among the highlights.
And he tasted doubles success as he teamed up with Russian veteran Nikolai Davydenko to win his second doubles crown in Montpellier.