ATP NEWS – BIG JOHN ISNER LOSES IN THE FIRST ROUND IN RIO OPEN TENNIS TO PELLA IN 3 HOUR MATCH

Written by: Staff on 16th February 2016

ATP NEWS - BIG JOHN ISNER LOSES IN THE FIRST ROUND IN RIO OPEN TENNIS TO PELLA IN 3 HOUR MATCH

epa05162968 John Isner of the USA in action against Argentina's Guido Pella during their first round match of the Rio Open tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15 February 2016. EPA/MARCELO SAYAO |

Argentina’s Guido Pella has withstood a barrage of 31 aces to send No. 4 seed John Isner crashing out in the opening round of the Rio Open on Monday night, saving three match points in the upset. 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-6(8) The 25 year old won just 17 per cent of points on Isner’s first serve but still found a way past the World No. 12 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

He failed to convert any of his four break point opportunities in the three-hour, two-minute affair but did well to fend off 10 of 11 break points. After opening his season reaching the quarter-finals in Auckland and fourth round at the Australian Open, Isner fell to 0-2 on his South American swing, having fallen to Dusan Lajovic in his first match in Buenos Aires last week.

In his Rio Open debut, World No.71-ranked Pella had a match point with Isner serving at 4-5 in the second set. The American saved it with a kicking second-serve ace before finding himself down two match points when serving to stay in the match again at 4-5 in the third.

Argentina’s Guido Pella returns the ball to John Isner of the USA during their first round match of the Rio Open tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15 February 2016. EPA/MARCELO SAYAO

Again Isner held before both players traded love holds to force the deciding tie-break. From 5/5 in the tie-break, three times Isner stood at match point only to be denied.

Pella brought up match point No. 3 of his own at 9/8 and closed it out to book a second-round showdown with with either Santiago Giraldo or Gastao Elias. “I had a lot of chances and I did not play the right way,” a cramping Isner released via a statement following the match. “I had high expectations for this trip. I hope to come back and play better.”

( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/pella-isner-rio-de-janeiro-2016-monday )

Topics: Atp World Tour, Gastao Elias, Guido Pella, John Isner, Men's tennis, Rio Open, Santiago Giraldo, Sports, Tennis