John Isner said at the start of the Miami Open that he had a one in 100 chance of successfully defending his 2018 title. Felix Auger-Aliassime wasn’t even in the main draw until last Wednesday night.
On Friday afternoon, one will find himself in the Miami final.
Isner and Auger-Aliassime will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they collide in the semifinals of the season’s first Masters 1000 event. Both players have been in scintillating form while also taking advantage of a top half of the draw depleted by early upsets.
After capturing the biggest title of his career last spring at Crandon Park, Isner is up to his usual Miami tricks inside Hard Rock Stadium. The ninth-ranked American has improved to 23-10 lifetime at this tournament with victories over Lorenzo Sonego, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Kyle Edmund, and Roberto Bautista Agut while refusing to lose even a single set. Since starting the season 0-2 in Australia, Isner is 14-4 in his last 18 matches.
Fifteen year his opponent’s junior at 18, Auger-Aliassime is engineering a meteoric rise up the rankings. He started the 2019 campaign at No. 108 in the world and will reach at least No. 33 even if he loses to Isner. Following a runner-up finish in Rio de Janeiro, a quarterfinal performance in Sao Paulo, and a third-round showing in Indian Wells as a wild card, Auger-Aliassime is now through to the Miami semis for the most important result of his professional life. The Canadian qualified for the main draw and has since knocked off Casper Ruud, Marton Fucsovics, Hubert Hurkacz, Nikoloz Basilashvili, and Borna Coric.
“A lot of things are working, obviously,” the world No. 58 assured. “I think I have been just improving in the last couple of weeks. But I don’t want to look back right now; I think I will do at the end of the tournament. Right now I’m looking forward to the next match and how far I can go in this tournament.
“I think maybe I’ll have to maybe adjust my return position (against Isner)–maybe see the stats where he’s serving best, look at the match how he played [against Bautista Agut] in these tiebreaks, to see where he likes serving on important points. From there (the key is to) just focus on myself, what I have to do first, and then figure out a way to break him.”
That is easier said than done, of course, especially in Miami. Conditions suit Isner perfectly and he is an incredible 7-0 in tiebreakers so far this fortnight. The seventh seed has blasted 77 aces compared to just seven double-faults and has served at no worse than 69 percent in any match.
The stage won’t be too big for the youngster, but the opponent will be.
Pick: Isner in 2
[polldaddy poll=10278579]
who ya got?
Isner called Aug a great kid. How does that not surprise me.
Aug in 3
Ricky is bold in saying Isner in 2. I think if Isner is to win, it’ll be in three sets. I think FAA is good to get a set, even if he may not win the match.
It’s interesting to see how FAA handles Isner’s big serve; not many youngsters are good at ROS.
I’ll say Isner in 2 for the simple reason that whilst Felix is a budding top player I don’t think his game is that watertight atm (he still makes a few too many UEs)to hold on to his serve 100% of the time and we all know that’s one of the prerequisites when playing a big server like Isner who is also the best of the giants beyond the serve. If Felix could survive to TBs then he would stand a chance of taking a set or 2 but I doubt he would.
Isner in 2.
No doubt FA2 is a huge talent and very mature for an 18 yo. But I don’t think he’s ever faced anything like Isner’s huge serve, especially when it’s on as it has been this week. Plus the kid had to play 3 matches just to get into the draw. He’s got to be getting near the “end of his energy” as Rafa would say. If Isner does beat him, it’s probably for the last time.
One thing interesting, Rafa was also 18 when he first made the Miami SF (and he reached the final). Let’s see FAA can equal Rafa’s record there at Miami, or who knows, even better!
Djoko won Miami in 2007 at age 19; let’s see whether Shapo at age 19, can replicate that feat. So far, only Agassi and Djoko were able to win at Miami as teenagers (both at 19), and Rafa was the youngest finalist, at 18, in 2005.
One thing interesting, Rafa was also 18 when he first made the Miami SF (and he reached the final). Let’s see FAA can equal Rafa’s record there at Miami, or who knows, even better!
Djoko won Miami in 2007 at age 19; let’s see whether Shapo at age 19, can replicate that feat. So far, only Agassi and Djoko were able to win at Miami as teenagers (both at 19), and Rafa was the youngest finalist, at 18, in 2005.
One thing interesting, Rafa was also 18 when he first made the Miami SF (and he reached the final). Let’s see FAA can equal Rafa’s record there at Miami, or who knows, even better!
Djoko won Miami in 2007 at age 19; let’s see whether Shapo at age 19, can replicate that feat. So far,
… only Djoko and Agassi were able to win at Miami as teenagers (both at 19); Rafa at 18 was the youngest finalist there in 2005.
.. only Agassi and Djoko were able to win at Miami as teenagers (both at 19); and Rafa was the youngest teenaged finalist(at 18 in 2005, lost final to Fed).
I would say Isner in 2 because Felix, good as he is, makes too many UEs to be able to hold serve 100% of teh time and you only have to lose your serve to lose the set against Isner most of the time.
Felix has played some great tennis, but so has John. If it comes down to tie-breaks, I think isner will hold his nerve better. This is relatively new territory for Felix.
Much as I don’t want to see Isner in the final again, when he’s serving this well on this surface, it’s hard to see him losing to Felix.
Isner in 3.
As much I really want Felix to win, and I really want Isn’tner to lose, I think Isn’tner may just be a little too solid for Felix right now. However, I also wouldn’t be surprised if Felix won just because we haven’t really seen him this deep in a big tournament. Maybe he won’t be phased by the moment in the slightest and can pull it out? We shall see. Go Felix!
FAA in three. I think his ROS is up to the task
Fed v Shapo predictions?
Nice line about “the stage”…and I agree…Big Dawg in 2.
Can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a tennis player choke being up 5-4 with the serve in both games and lose. An amazing choke job regardless of how old he is. And it’s not like Isner is some return machine. That will ruin him for awhile
Yeah, FAA really choked in both sets when he had already broken Isner’s serve and was about to serve for the set and both times he DF or served poorly to lose serve. Well, maybe he wasn’t that calm or confident after all.
Way to go Isner! Loved it!
Shame for Felix in this match. Nerves are tough, but two sets in a row are a killer. Should have at least been a 3 set match. Still, the kid is 18. Great job in this tournament!
Yeah, a lot expected of him there, but even managing to break the Isner serve in both sets is an amazing .