Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin put his squad back on track in their Davis Cup World Group play-off showdown with visiting Uzbekistan by beating Farrukh Dustov at the clay courts of Astana tennis centre on Friday. Kazakhstan’s 24-year-old Kukushkin won 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in two hours 52 minutes to see off 308th-ranked Dustov in their first meeting and level matters at 1-1. Kukushkin, who is 70th in the ATP rankings, was in complete command from the start, breaking his unheralded opponent on three occasions to take the first set in 34 minutes. In the second set Kukushkin underlined his supremacy as he broke again in the ninth game to increase his advantage.
In the third, Dustov picked up steam to break early to clinch a comfortable 3-0 lead, taking the set in 37 minutes to reduce the arrears. Dustov broke early again in the fourth set clinching a 3-1 advantage but Kukushkin, spurred by the local crowd, broke back in the eighth game to level at 4-4.
In the ensuing tiebreak, Kukushkin pulled off the win on his first match point. Earlier, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan took the opening rubber, beating Evgeny Korolev in a tough five-setter. Uzbekistan’s 26-year-old Istomin won 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 to record his first ever win over Korolev, who had won both of their previous head-to-head meetings. “It was a tough match but nevertheless I was in control throughout, except the fourth set, which I lost to love,” Istomin said. “The fact that Evgeny (Korolev) is below me in the rankings doesn’t matter at all. He’s a dangerous opponent and it was very interesting to play against him. I’m happy that I managed to win today to put my team into the lead.” Istomin looked slightly more confident in the opening set, producing a break in the fourth game to gain a set lead in 35 minutes. In the second Moscow-born Korolev, 24, broke his rival’s serve twice to level at one set all after one hour 33 minutes, while the Uzbek squad leader managed to break back only on one occasion.
Kukushkin puts Kazakhs back on the track
