Tennis

Istomin 1st Uzbeki to reach Wimbledon 4th round

Published Jul. 6, 2012 4:26 a.m. ET

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Denis Istomin became the first player from Uzbekistan to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament on Friday, beating Alejandro Falla of Colombia 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) at Wimbledon.

Both players were trying to become the first man from their country to advance to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, and Istomin prevailed by hitting 16 aces and 44 winners, breaking Falla twice.

The 39th-ranked Istomin overcame Andreas Seppi in five sets in the first round - coming back from 5-3 down to win the decider 8-6 - and then beat Igor Andreev in his second match.

He lost in the third round of Wimbledon in 2010.

Falla was the first Colombian man to reach the third round at the All England Club by winning two five-setters.

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