Isner stuns Djokovic to set up final with Roger
Source: Agencies |
March 19, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ROGER Federer overcame Rafael Nadal and the rain for a 6-3, 6-4 semifinal victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Saturday night, acing Nadal on a match point that was delayed a couple minutes by rain drops.
Federer handled the cold, windy conditions better than Nadal, whose grumpy expression matched his out-of-sorts body language. The match got started nearly three hours late because of rain.
Nadal netted a forehand to give Federer match point when rain drops slickened the lines on the court and the chair umpire halted the action. The players sat in their chairs trying to stay warm. Minutes later, Federer got up and smacked an ace wide to Nadal's forehand side, giving him his first win over the Spaniard since last year's ATP World Tour finals. The Swiss star still trails their head-to-head series 10-18.
Federer will play 11th-ranked John Isner in the final, a rematch of their Davis Cup showdown last month in which Isner won on clay in Switzerland. Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Maria Sharapova will meet for the women's title.
Isner fired 20 aces, including one at 215 kilometers per hour on his fourth match point, to beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the other semifinal. Isner will try to become the first American winner in the desert since Andre Agassi in 2001.
Isner's victory guaranteed he will break into the top 10 for the first time in this week's ATP Tour rankings at No. 10. A victory in the final would move the American to No. 8, passing countryman Mardy Fish who is currently in that spot.
Federer handled the cold, windy conditions better than Nadal, whose grumpy expression matched his out-of-sorts body language. The match got started nearly three hours late because of rain.
Nadal netted a forehand to give Federer match point when rain drops slickened the lines on the court and the chair umpire halted the action. The players sat in their chairs trying to stay warm. Minutes later, Federer got up and smacked an ace wide to Nadal's forehand side, giving him his first win over the Spaniard since last year's ATP World Tour finals. The Swiss star still trails their head-to-head series 10-18.
Federer will play 11th-ranked John Isner in the final, a rematch of their Davis Cup showdown last month in which Isner won on clay in Switzerland. Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Maria Sharapova will meet for the women's title.
Isner fired 20 aces, including one at 215 kilometers per hour on his fourth match point, to beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the other semifinal. Isner will try to become the first American winner in the desert since Andre Agassi in 2001.
Isner's victory guaranteed he will break into the top 10 for the first time in this week's ATP Tour rankings at No. 10. A victory in the final would move the American to No. 8, passing countryman Mardy Fish who is currently in that spot.
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