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Call propels Isner at Delray Beach ITC
John Isner moves past Ryan Sweeting Wednesday night.
By Palm Beach Business.com
DELRAY BEACH — There are times when you’re luck. There are times when you’re good. And then there are times when you’re both lucky and good.
That was John Isner Wednesday night as he caught a break on a call, then used a serve that at time hit as high as 135 mph to power his way passed Ryan Sweeting of Fort Lauderdale at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. Isner, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, moves on to face eighth seeded Bernard Tomic of Australia in the semifinals.
With second match tied at two, the game at 40 and Sweeting serving, Isner fired a shot that appeared to land beyond the baseline. So it seemed to most everyone in the stadium. With the exception of the linesman and the umpire.
The call upset Sweeting, who put his hands in the air two feet apart, indicating that ball wasn’t even close to the line. He protested to no avail. Sweeting lost the next point, the game and had his service broken in the process. He never recovered, losing the match 6-3, 6-4.
Afterwards Isner said he didn’t see the shot.
“From Ryan’s reaction, it probably was out, but that’s just how it goes sometimes,” Isner said. “I caught a break and I capitalized on it.”
Isner looked stronger than he did during his Tuesday afternoon match with Jesse Levine, when he hunched over a number of times in the second set, particularly in the tiebreaker.
Isner blamed the heat and humidity — something not unusual for him — but said he’s adjusting.
“I’m still not all the way there yet, but it was a big improvement,” Isner said.
In the final match of the day, Tomic cruised by Tim Smyczek 6-1, 75.
And in doubles play, the world’s No. 1 ranked team of Bob and Mike Bryan advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-4 (4), 6-2 victory against Jarkko Nieminem of Finland and Viktor Troicki of Serbia.
Thursday’s schedule:
11 a.m. Dudi Sela vs Jarkko Nieminen
NB 12:30 p.m. Philipp Kohlschreiber vs Ivan Dodig
NB 2:30 p.m. Xavier Malisse vs Kevin Anderson
7 p.m. Andy Roddick vs Denis Istomin
NB 9 p.m. Bryan Brothers vs Karlovic/Moser
Bernard Tomic of Australia beat Amerian Tim Smyczek Wednesday and moves on to face John Isner.
The Bryan Brothers, Bob and Mike, in their opening match against Jarkko Nieminem of Finland and Viktor Troicki. They play again Thursday night.
