John Isner extended his unbroken streak to six matches while defeating Leonardo Mayer 7-6(6), 6-4 in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Wednesday afternoon. Isner dropped only 11 points in 11 service games and did not face a single break point.
Even David Ferrer seemed happy about Isner’s performance:
The 6’10” American has been broken only once in his last eight matches on this European clay-court swing. That came at the hands of Rafael Nadal, who got past Isner 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 in the Monte-Carlo third round. Interestingly, it is Nadal whom Isner will once against face in the last 16 in Rome.
“His serve is a big challenge, and he has a very good continuation with his forehand,” the Spaniard assessed. “It’s difficult to play against him because you don’t have a lot of control over the things that are going to happen. If he serves well, you are in big trouble. All that is in my hands is to be very focused on my serve and to try to create opportunities on his serve.”
Isner has 109 aces and nine double-faults in six matches since the start of the Madrid Masters. Even Tomas Berdych, who had broken Isner 13 times in their four previous meetings (nine total sets), could not solve the Isner serve in Madrid.
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Vamos Dr Nadal
Stay tuned for OCD type B posts:
1. Vamos Rafa
2. Match stats
3. Animated GIF (if Rafa wins)
This is an automated post at 7:14 pm. They keep coming! Stay tuned for them!
I just realized I won’t be able to watch the match as I have a meeting scheduled at that time…how will I be able to concentrate at the meeting when I know Rafa is out there in the hands of a tall ace machine…please Rafa do not underperform…please just be your Berdymatch-self…
Vamos Dr Nadal!
Did he even graduate high school? GED maybe?
natashao,
I don’t envy you. I would not be able to concentrate at all if Rafa was playing while I hadto actually attend to real life!
Yes, the ace machine awaits! Yikes! I hate when Rafa has to play this guy.
Rafa knows what he has to do. It’s not complicated. Not easy, but uncomplicated. He must hold his serve as though his life depends on it. Then try, try, try to get a break!
https://tenngrand.com/2015/05/13/rome-r3-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-isner-murray-vs-goffin/