Video: Denis Istomin Falls Down, Hits Winner in Tokyo

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Video: Denis Istomin Falls Down, Hits Winner in Tokyo

If it's the middle of the night, and Denis Istomin hits a trick shot, did it really happen?

It most certainly did. In the second round of the Rakuten Japan Open in Tokyo on Friday, the unseeded Uzbek joined in the "shot of the year" conversation on Friday. Istomin was looking to reach his seventh ATP World Tour quarterfinal of the season against Michael Przysiezny, a qualifier who defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening round.

A tight two-set match saw the first set be decided by just one break of serve, while the second was decided in a tiebreak. Leading 6-5 in the tiebreak on serve, Istomin and Przysiezny proceeded to play a long rally in which Istomin dug out consecutive balls on his backhand side. His Polish opponent then ran him out to his forehand side, and Istomin proceeded to play a sliding, passing shot winning while falling to the ground. Przysiezny could only bow his head in disbelief, while Istomin celebrated from a sitting position.

Istomin will face Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals. Raonic defeated Jurgen Melzer, 6-4, 6-3.

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