ATLANTA TENNIS NEWS • JOHN ISNER IN HIS 8TH SEMI FINAL • GO DOGS

Written by: Staff on 28th July 2017

ATLANTA TENNIS NEWS • JOHN ISNER IN HIS 8TH SEMI FINAL • GO DOGS

epa06115297 John Isner of the US in action against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia during a quarterfinal round match at the BB&T Atlanta Open tennis tournament at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 28 July 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Isner continues winning ways at BB&T Atlanta Open, set for big-serving showdown against Muller

By Ricky Dimon

Death, taxes, and John Isner in the Atlanta semifinals….

For the eighth time in the eight-year history of the BB&T Atlanta Open, John Isner will be a part of the semifinal Saturday proceedings after he beat of Lukas Lacko 7-5, 6-4 on Friday. Isner crushed 13 aces without double-faulting to get the job done in one hour and 13 minutes.

It was another routine victory for the world No. 20, who lifted the trophy last week in Newport while winning all of his matches in straight sets and being extended to just one tiebreaker. After 52 straight holds of serve without giving any opponent a break point, however, Isner finally stared one down at 3-4 in the first set. But he erased Lacko’s chance with a service winner at 30-40 and held two points later. A love break of his own at 5-5 allowed the three-time Atlanta champion to serve out the set without any trouble.

It was all but over for Lacko when he donated two double-faults at 4-4 in the second and got broken. Isner, who dropped only five points in five second-set service games, held in routine fashion to wrap things up in style.

“Dangit that was a horrible service performance today,” the 6’10” American joked about having to save a break point. “No, I served well. He was for a good portion of the match on me a little bit. He returned well. He takes the return early, and he hit quite a few good returns quick and right at my feet. I stayed calm at that break point; hit a great serve–hit three great serves. (I) got out of dodge there and then was able to play a great game at 5-all to win the first set.”

Up next for Isner is what will likely be a big-serving affair with Wimbledon quarterfinalist Gilles Muller, who made even quicker work of Tommy Paul. Muller fired 16 aces and fought off all four of the break points he faced to prevail 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and nine minutes.

Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in action against Quentin Halys of France during a second round match at the BB&T Atlanta Open tennis tournament at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 26 July 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

A 45-minute rain delay came with Muller and Paul midway through the opening set, but it was much different story upon resumption. The world No. 22 had already saved the four break points and he was invincible on serve the rest of the way.

“In the beginning it was really tough before the [rain delay],” Muller noted. “Tommy played really well. In the beginning he put a lot of pressure on me. He was returning great and serving big. I guess I was lucky that break came. Because after the break I had time to regroup a little bit and refocus. I came out there and I was a bit more aggressive. I think that was the key point today.”

The key for Muller all season has been health. Staying injury free, the left-handed Luxembourgian has earned the first two ATP titles of his career this year and he upset Rafael Nadal during his run at the All-England Club.

“There’s nothing else,” Muller responded when asked what the difference is in 2017 aside from health. “Being healthy is the key. I’ve been saying for the last three or four years that since my injury I haven’t had any big breaks. I am able to pay full seasons. I have a lot of confidence in my body now. I know I am able to keep on playing for awhile. I also know when I have to stop. I think I do it perfectly. I know when to take my breaks. I know when to rest a little bit and when I can push my body.”

He may need a rest after what could be a long, tiebreaker-filled battle with Isner.

“It is certainly going to be a heavyweight fight tomorrow,” Isner concluded. “Two big guys with great serves.”