Top two seeds John Isner and Tommy Haas book semifinal spots in Delray Beach on Saturday. Ernests Gulbis also advances.
(1) John Isner d. (6) Kevin Anderson 6-2, 7-6(1)
Isner picked up some much-needed momentum with his biggest win of the season when he took down Anderson in one hour and 19 minutes during quarterfinal action at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Friday night. The 6’9” American had already put on a serving clinic this week and nothing changed in his latest match. After recording 28 aces against Jesse Levine and 15 aces without double-faulting in a victory over Go Soeda, Isner fired 17 aces and one double-fault while serving at 68 percent.
Coming off minor elbow surgery, Anderson did well to reach the quarters but he lost his way right from the start against his former college rival. The 29th-ranked South African dropped serve to begin the match and he did so again at 1-3. Anderson fought off one set point with an ace at 1-5 before Isner took the opener with a routine service hold. A tiebreaker had to decide the second after 12 holds, at which point Isner regained control and dominated it seven points to one. A final Anderson double-fault sent Isner into a semifinal showdown with Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
(2) Tommy Haas d. Ivan Dodig 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-1
Haas needed to hours and one minute to survive a wild, back-and-forth thriller against Dodig on Friday afternoon . The 34-year-old German surged to a 4-0 lead in the first and still could not seal the deal without plenty of drama. In fact, Dodig broke three times in succession and actually served for the opener at 5-4. This time it was Haas’ turn to mount a comeback and he got back on level terms before saving a set point with a backhand volley at 5-6 in the ensuing tiebreaker. Haas finally converted a set point of his own at 7-6 with a slice backhand pass.
The next two sets were more straightforward, although the two competitors took turns having the advantage. Dodig surrendered a mere four service points in the second to force a decider without any trouble. Suddenly, however, the 62nd-ranked Croat saw his serve collapse. He was broken three times, the first two thanks to double-faults on break points. Haas missed two match points on his opponent’s serve at 5-1 but he capitalized on his third chance with a crushing forehand winner. Next up for the world No. 19 is Ernests Gulbis, who rolled over Daniel Munoz-De La Nava 6-1, 6-4.
(Q) Ernests Gulbis d. (Q) Daniel Munoz-De La Nava 6-1, 6-4
After storming back from 4-0 down in the third set against Sam Querrey on Thursday, Gulbis had a much easier time of things against Munoz-De La Nava in Friday’s first quarterfinal. This all-qualifier showdown was an entirely one-sided affair from the start, as Gulbis raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set after converting his initial break with a perfect forehand lob. The 109th-ranked Latvian eventually closed out the opening set thanks to a convincing service hold at 5-1.
It was all but over for Munoz-De La Nava when he dropped serve right away in set two. The 31-year-old Spaniard held the rest of the way, but he did not have a single chance in the second to get back on level terms. Munoz-De La Nava saw a slight 15-30 opening in the final game, but Gulbis erased it with three consecutive points and he clinched victory with his fifth ace. The former world No. 21, who captured the title at this event in 2010, wrapped up his effort having won 22 of 24 first-serve points.
Has Gulbis finally got it together?!!!!!