MELBOURNE, Australia -- Arguably the greatest Australian Open champion in the 105 years of this event, Novak Djokovic was stunned Thursday on Rod Laver Arena.
The world No. 2 fell to wild-card Denis Istomin 7-6 (8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to reach the third round of the year's first major.
Djokovic, a record six-time winner Down Under, was out of sorts from the outset. Fifteen minutes after the first ball was struck, he found himself still fighting for the opening game.
Mercifully, it finally ended when the Djokovic struck two unreturnable serves, ending the nine-deuce game.