John Isner Sets Newport Final Clash With Hewitt

Written by: Staff on 14th July 2012

John Isner Sets Newport Final Clash With Hewitt

epa03281268 John Isner of the US returns to Alejandro Falla of Colombia during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 25 June 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY |

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/07/28/Newport-Saturday-Hewitt-Reaches-Final-Isner-Faces-Harrison.aspx)

Top seed John Isner is one match away from successfully defending a title for the first time in his career after easing past sixth seed Ryan Harrison 7-6(4), 6-3 in the semi-finals of the Campbell’s Hall Of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport Saturday.

Isner hit 11 aces, won 92 per cent of his first serve points and did not face a break point in the 86-minute victory. He has defeated his American compatriot in both of their meetings, with their other encounter coming in Memphis two years ago.

The 26 year old is aiming to win his first title in 2012, following runner-up efforts at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (l. to Federer) and the ATP World Tour 250 event in Houston (l. to Monaco). He is 27-13 on the season.

In Sunday’s final, Isner will look to notch his first win in three clashes with Lleyton Hewitt. The wild card reached his first final in more than two years, overcoming 2009 champion Rajeev Ram 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Hewitt won 74 per cent of his first serve points and broke serve five times to seal the victory in two hours and 21 minutes. He evened his FedEx ATP Head 2 Head record against Ram to 1-1, avenging last year’s defeat to the American in Atlanta.

“I had to take my chances. I felt like I was in every one of his service games. It was a matter of those half chances,” said Hewitt. “Early on in the match, I had a lot of break points, but he came up with big first serves. I didn’t get a look at a second serve on a break point. It was a matter of if I got that small opportunity, with a second serve and a break point, I had to step up and take it.”

The 31-year-old Australian is bidding to win his 29th career title. He is 7-0 in grass-court finals, with his latest triumph coming in the 2009 Gerry Weber Open title match over Roger Federer in Halle.

Hewitt is appearing in Newport for the first time since 1998. He has dropped to World No. 233 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings after being sidelined for nearly four months after toe surgery.

“It’s about getting wins and putting yourself in a position. You doubt yourself more when you’re coming back from surgery,” Hewitt said. “You can’t just click your fingers and start moving and playing the way you want to play. And that can be frustrating.

“I have small goals at the moment. I’m trying to get my movement as close to as 100 per cent as possible. And be to the point where I don’t have to think about it either. You come back from surgery and you think about everything. My whole mechanics have changed. So that’s taking a bit of time.”

Topics: American tennis news, Campbell’s Hall Of Fame Tennis Championships, John Isnere, Lleyton Hewitt, Newport tennis news, Ryan Harrison, Sports