Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan star and third seeded Denis Istomin came from down a match point to scrape past Belarusian Uladzimir Ignatik and make it to the second round of $125,000 Tashkent Challenger, Istomin who won three challengers in row before coming here managed to come back from a 3-1 deficit and a match point at 5-6 in the third set to overcome Belarusian Uladzimir Ignatik 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(0) in a 1hr 53 minute battle royale.

Istomin who travelled back to his home city winning the Challenger in Istanbul on Sunday looked tired on the court saved a match point in the 12th game and showed his in Class winning the tiebreak 7-0.

Sunder Iyer of the Tashkent Challenger Media Team spoke to him after his win today.

About your win today?

I'm happy to win, after being in pressure in most of the third set. I put in my last reserve in the tiebreak and hit the ball really hard. I'm happy to have survived it was a good match.

After playing all the Best events including the Grand slams now back to the grind at the Challengers what happened to your rankings?

I have had couple of injuries at the beginning of the year, my knee injury aggravated, I lost most of the clay season where I made points last year, and points started falling off, I had very tough draws at the Grand Slam against players like Nadal, Tsonga and did not get too many points, as results rankings dropped, forcing me back to the grind.

Now you have played both the tour event and the Challengers please tell us the difference?

Actually sometimes it is easy to win a Semi final of final round at Challenger, but to win even one round at a Grand Slam or ATP tour event it is quite tough. The Challenger however is much intense as level of players is same normally.

Isn't it difficult for players like you to manage playing at both levels?

Actually for players like me in top 50-100 bracket it is very tough we have to mix up events well, but the same is not for the top 20 players like Nadal or Djokovic who don't have to bother about their points, even a difference in some points make quite a difference to us

How is it at the top level and competing with top players?

When I played Nadal or Tsonga I felt overwhelmed and it was tough to play them, but if one plays them the second or the third time it can be a little comfortable. It is big experience and lot of learning. I personally feel that the level is different, the top layers play the important point at a different level, they take the first opportunity in the match., they go for the kill and it is something to learn from, to take opportunities.

What moment would you like to cherish from your career so far?

Last year when I played the US Open on the centre court against Nadal watched by 22000 people, I remember a moment in the second set tiebreak against Nadal, when he dropped and I slid and returned the ball for a winner, Hearing the crowd clap for that shot was phenomenal I cannot forget it though I lost afterwards. Playing on centre courts of Big events is always enjoyable and cherish able.

How would you like to rate this year's Tashkent Challenger in terms of competition against previous year?

Every Challenger is close and intense, you can gauge from my match today against Ignatik that no match is easy. Even though me and Lu have come here with wins last week, there are other 20 players who want to win. It is very difficult to predict. I'll however try to do well and keep myself and keep myself in good physical form. I'm a quite tired playing last three weeks, but I have to give the event at my home the best shot.