Istomin seeks first ATP Tour title

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Denis Istomin earned a chance at his first ATP Tour title Friday by defeating Viktor Troicki in the semifinals at the Pilot Pen.

Istomin has never played in a championship match during his three full seasons on the tour, but he will do so Saturday against ninth-seeded Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Istomin defeated Troicki 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 6-2 on the campus of Yale University in the final tournament prior to the start of the U.S. Open.

This was the third semifinal appearance of the year for Istomin.

Stakhovsky, who has one tournament crown to his credit this season, coasted past Thiemo De Bakker in the other semifinal 6-3, 6-4.

Stakhovsky won the UNICEF Open this year over Janko Tipsarevic.

It will be the first career meeting between Istomin and Stakhovsky.