John Isner goes up against France’s Adrian Mannarino on Friday for a chance to make his second consecutive semifinal in Delray Beach. Top seed Juan Martin del Potro will also look for a spot in the semis, as he faces Mackenzie McDonald.
(2) WC John Isner vs. Adrian Mannarino
John Isner has not proven to be a favorable matchup for Adrian Mannarino. In their seven previous encounters, the American has won six. Mannarino’s single success came at Wimbledon back in 2013; Isner was forced to retire at 1-1 in the first set.
Isner has endured a rough start to the 2019 season. Until he went to New York last week (when he made the semifinals) he hadn’t won a single match–though he seems to have shaken off the rust in the past couple of weeks. If there is one spot of good news for big-serving American, it’s that Mannarino has been even worse this year.
Given their history and Mannarino’s poor form, Isner should will have the decided advantage. Provided the American has a decent serving day, he will likely find himself in another semifinal.
Cheryl pick: Isner in 2
Ricky pick: Isner in 2
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(1) WC Juan Martin del Potro vs. Mackenzie McDonald
Both Juan Martin Del Potro and Mackenzie McDonald posted strong second-round wins. McDonald took out Spanish veteran Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, while Del Potro dismissed big-serving New York Open champion Reilly Opelka in routine straight sets.
Defeating Del Potro–the world No. 4–is a big ask of the young American. The Argentine’s form was a bit in question coming into this week, as he had been out with a knee injury. He seemed a bit tired after his opening match against Yoshihito Nishioka, but his performance against Opelka required barely more than an hour and Del Potro wasn’t forced to do much running around the baseline.
McDonald played well against Garcia-Lopez and promises to be Del Potro’s first big test in his comeback. The American has good court sense, but the one-two punch of the top seed’s serve and forehand will likely get the job done. This will be the first meeting between Del Potro and McDonald.
Pick: Del Potro in 3
Ricky pick: Del Potro in 2
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WYG?
Isner and Delpo, both in 2
same
On February 20, Delpo received a wild card to play in the Acapulco tournament, but he withdrew from the tournament after his match on Saturday.
John Horn (a tennis reporter): ¤¤ Juan Martin Del Potro has announced he has withdrawn from Acapulco…He won the tournament last year…Said his knee needs rest for Indian Wells ¤¤ :
https://twitter.com/SportsHorn/status/1099160990917316614
John Horn: ¤¤ Del Potro on injured knee & pulling out of Acapulco: “It’s really difficult to win the match playing like this. I couldn’t run 100-percent. Now I have to take a break a little bit longer to be ready for Indian Wells.”¤¤
John Horn: ¤¤ Del Potro on his injured knee:”The doctor says, if I want to be 100% it will need time. But I don’t want to be at home anymore watching the tournaments on TV because I had this in the past & it was really bad to me. But in this condition it’s not easy to play my best level.”¤¤
Correction:
…after his match on Friday (local time). 🙂
Poor Delpo. Maybe he should learn to be more aggressive by moving up to the net more often to cut short the points and to cut down on the running along the baseline. I think his serve needs a bit more work so that it’ll get more lethal. He missed a few first serve in the last few games, probably affected by his knee issue?