Juan Martin Del Potro and John Isner have squared off in the final of a 500-point event, in the semis of two Masters 1000s, and now their biggest one of all will come in the quarters of a slam when they collide at U.S. Open on Tuesday.
This marks just their second meeting in a major but also their second in a row, having previously faced each other at the French Open this spring. Del Potro dominated 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to take a 7-4 lead in the head-to-head series, including 6-3 on hard courts and a surprising 4-1 on Isner’s stomping grounds of U.S. hard courts. On the bright side for the 6’10” American, however, he has won two of their last three encounters–6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 last fall in Paris to deny Del Potro a spot in the Nitto ATP Finals and 6-1, 7-6(2) in this year’s Miami semifinals.
Del Potro is heading straight for the 02 Arena in 2018, which will mark his first appearance at the year-end championship since 2013. Finally armed with a consistently clean bill of health, the Argentine is an awesome 41-10 for his 2018 campaign and up to a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world. He has advanced so far this fortnight with straight-set victories over Donald Young, Denis Kudla, Fernando Verdasco, and Borna Coric.
As he often does, Isner has taken a more circuitous route through a slam. The world No. 11 cruised past countryman Bradley Klahn in round one but needed five sets to beat Nicolas Jarry, four against Dusan Lajovic, and five again versus Milos Raonic on Sunday afternoon. Isner, who had previously reached just one slam quarterfinal in his entire career (2011 U.S. Open), is now 9-1 in his last 10 major matches spanning Wimbledon (semifinals) and the U.S. Open.
“I feel very mentally tough,” said Isner, who captured his first Masters 1000 title earlier this season in Miami. “I think this year, since Miami of course, I really turned a corner. There are some matches I’ve played where I only just rely on my serve. But I think more times than not this year I’ve shown some other ability. That comes from just being relaxed on the court. It’s not a product of more reps and more practice.
“[Del Potro] will be a tough test for me, for sure. He’s beaten me more than I’ve beaten him. It’s a matchup that I sort of enjoy. He’s one of the best players in the world; got to step up your game against a player like that. The last time we played on hard court was in Miami and I played exceptionally well there. Try to draw a lot of positives from that.”
It is Del Potro, though, who should have an edge this time around. The 29-year-old has enjoyed plenty of success in this matchup and the backhand slice that he improved so much throughout his wrist-injury tribulations is an extremely effective shot against Isner. Moreover, Del Potro is an outstanding 33-8 lifetime at the U.S. Open with a title in 2009 and now three straight trips to at least the quarterfinals.
Look for him to make it two straight to the semis.
Pick: Del Potro in 4
[polldaddy poll=10096351]
who ya got?
Del Po in five
tsame
Isner on a roll….in 4.
Very much pulling for delpo in this one, but I have a feeling that Isner is right; there’s something much improved about him this year. Maybe a mental thing. I think this match is going 5 sets, but I have no idea who will win it.
Isner in four is my gut feeling, though I also want to see the Delpo-Nadal match.
Nah! Hate both!!
Delpo over the Pox on Tennis in three.
Hawks-
I’m in the stadium right now, and I can’t help but think of you because the loud crowd support for ISN’Tner is annoying me haha!
Otherwise, I’m loving rooting on Del Po! 🙂
Delps down a set! 😢
Come on Delpo!! I can’t stand isner!
I hope you’re wearing your ‘I love Rafa ‘ hat and t shirt Kevin!
Also I hope you have a plan if things go wrong! You have to disrupt the match!
Haha, Amy! I don’t own any Rafa gear, unfortunately, but I will send him positive vibes for you!
And if things get tough, I could always run into the court naked to disrupt it! 😉
That was actually what I had in mind!😀
You have to be prepared to take one for the team! Remember team rafa rule!!
Actually Kevin it’s already been a very disappointing performance from you today! What were you thinking of going without the proper attire?!
Hopefully there’s equally loud support for Delpo! Argentines can make a whole lotta noise for their guy!
Such objective tennis fans .They spend most of their time accusing Fedfans of the same thing as they’re doing right now to Isner and Delpo
Go Isner!
After 2 sets and 4 games Delpo has only 5 ues and isner 32!! Seriously?!
They should find a way of stopping the dominance of the serve!
Yesss! 2 sets to 1 up!
Vamos Delpo!!
Vamos Delpo! Yay he nade it 😀
It isn’t Isners day