Australian Open: Novak Djokovic defeated in second round

Former world number one Novak Djokovic was the victim of the biggest upset at the 2017 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, as he lost to Uzbek player Denis Istomin, ranked 117th. Djokovic, a six-time winner at this event, failed to find the right tempo and eventually lost 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in 4 hours and 48 minutes. The Serb, currently ranked second in the world, has not lost in the second round of a Grand Slam tournament since 2008. World number one Andy Murray now has a clear shot at the title, his first ever at the Australian open, as he has already reached the third round. Murray has lost five Australian Open finals in the past seven years, four of them to Djokovic. "He deserved to win. No doubt, he was a better player in the clutch moments," Djokovic said after his surprising defeat."Many things came together for him today and he's a well-deserved winner. There's not much I could do. I started the season very well. Again, it's a tennis match. On any given day, you can lose. I mean, nothing is impossible. I did try my best till the last shot, but it didn't work." "It is the biggest win of my career and means so much, now I feel I can play with these guys and be with them on the same level," said Istomin. "From the third set I had cramp in my leg, I don't know how I held it. I was playing so good. I surprised myself." The Uzbek player reached the main draw at the Australian Open thanks to a wild card, otherwise he would have been forced to go through qualifying. His best Grand Slam result is reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2012 and the US Open in 2013. Andy Murray is now 5/6 at Bet365 to win the Australian Open.