Isner wins another long-drawn match
Source: Agencies |
July 23, 2010, Friday
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NO. 2 seed John Isner fought through another final-set tiebreaker with a 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) victory over Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in the second round of the Atlanta Championships on Wednesday.
Isner, who became a household name after winning a three-day, 183-game match at Wimbledon last month, improved to 16-5 in career final-set tiebreakers.
"I was able to play well when I needed to early in the second set, and the crowd would pump me up when I'd get down 15-40," he said. "I just didn't want to let them down. I didn't want to lose my first match here."
The American had not played since he lost in the second round at Wimbledon, the day after his record win over Nicolas Mahut of France.
"With Gio as my opponent, he's probably one of the last guys I want to play," Isner said. "First match back (against) a big-serving left-hander, he's not going to give you much rhythm. So that was a little bit working against me, but I just told myself to compete."
Michael Russell of the United States will face Isner in the quarterfinals today after defeating German Rainer Schuettler 1-6, 6-2, 7-5. Down a point in the third-set tiebreaker, Isner did not react to a fan who shouted "70-68, baby!" - his fifth set score at Wimbledon.
Isner won the next two points when Muller hit errant returns and took the match when Muller's backhand volley fell wide right.
"This win was huge," said Isner, who earned his first career ATP tour title earlier this year in Auckland. "Maybe one of the biggest of the year because I want to get some matches under my belt before going on to (Washington) DC and the two masters series events and the US Open."
Taylor Dent beat No. 4 seed Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 in an earlier match to advance to his first ATP tour quarterfinal since Tokyo in October 2005. The victory was his seventh in 20 matches this year. Dent will face No. 6 seed Mardy Fish, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over fellow-American Robby Ginepri.
Zeballos, voted the tour's top newcomer in 2009, lost despite inconsistent service from Dent, whose 22 double-faults over the last two days pushed his total this year to 122.
"Unfortunately, double-faults have always been a staple of my game," Dent said. "I enjoy giving away a few free points, but any time you try to improve or thinker with things - I'm trying to improve my accuracy a lot with my serve, both first and second - you're going to have a dip-down period."
Isner, now a tour-best 23-12 in tiebreakers this year, improved to 25-15 overall in 2010. He is ranked No. 19 on the ATP tour.
Isner, who became a household name after winning a three-day, 183-game match at Wimbledon last month, improved to 16-5 in career final-set tiebreakers.
"I was able to play well when I needed to early in the second set, and the crowd would pump me up when I'd get down 15-40," he said. "I just didn't want to let them down. I didn't want to lose my first match here."
The American had not played since he lost in the second round at Wimbledon, the day after his record win over Nicolas Mahut of France.
"With Gio as my opponent, he's probably one of the last guys I want to play," Isner said. "First match back (against) a big-serving left-hander, he's not going to give you much rhythm. So that was a little bit working against me, but I just told myself to compete."
Michael Russell of the United States will face Isner in the quarterfinals today after defeating German Rainer Schuettler 1-6, 6-2, 7-5. Down a point in the third-set tiebreaker, Isner did not react to a fan who shouted "70-68, baby!" - his fifth set score at Wimbledon.
Isner won the next two points when Muller hit errant returns and took the match when Muller's backhand volley fell wide right.
"This win was huge," said Isner, who earned his first career ATP tour title earlier this year in Auckland. "Maybe one of the biggest of the year because I want to get some matches under my belt before going on to (Washington) DC and the two masters series events and the US Open."
Taylor Dent beat No. 4 seed Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 in an earlier match to advance to his first ATP tour quarterfinal since Tokyo in October 2005. The victory was his seventh in 20 matches this year. Dent will face No. 6 seed Mardy Fish, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over fellow-American Robby Ginepri.
Zeballos, voted the tour's top newcomer in 2009, lost despite inconsistent service from Dent, whose 22 double-faults over the last two days pushed his total this year to 122.
"Unfortunately, double-faults have always been a staple of my game," Dent said. "I enjoy giving away a few free points, but any time you try to improve or thinker with things - I'm trying to improve my accuracy a lot with my serve, both first and second - you're going to have a dip-down period."
Isner, now a tour-best 23-12 in tiebreakers this year, improved to 25-15 overall in 2010. He is ranked No. 19 on the ATP tour.
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