Atlanta Day 8 recap: Isner, Anderson come up big in tiebreakers

Drama at the BB&T Atlanta Open continued on Semifinal Saturday, with top two seeds John Isner and Kevin Anderson booking spots in the final.

Isner and Lleyton Hewitt played the fourth third-set tiebreaker of the tournament, with the former UGA Bulldog ultimately prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5). Isner gave back two mini-breaks in the decider but won another return point at 5-5 with a perfect backhand volley before serving it out one point later. The No. 1 seed and two-time runner-up finished with 21 aces and he saved all four of the break points he faced in the final set.

Anderson advanced in straight sets for the first time this week, but his showdown against Ryan Harrison was not without tension. The 6’7” South African fought off five break points in the second set and once battled out of a 0-40 hole, just as Isner had done in the third set against Hewitt. Anderson managed to force a tiebreaker then overpowered Harrison seven points to three.

Isner vs. Anderson will be the tallest ATP final in history. The overall head-to-head series stands at 5-3 in Isner’s favor.

Lleyton Hewitt