|
 The towering defending champion was broken in the first game of
the match but responded well to claim the contest 7-6 6-4, blasting
17 aces with his first serve on fire.
Matosevic blew a chance to claim the first set but Isner ultimately
sealed the tiebreak 8-6.
World number 12 Isner broke Matosevic in the seventh game of the
second set and closed the match with a thunderbolt ace.
“I knew he was struggling out there a little bit and he knew I was
struggling out there a little bit,” Isner told reporters.
“A lot of times those situations are a big advantage for me because
I can muster up enough energy to pop some big serves in.
“The beginning of the second set it felt like someone put us in the
oven. It was rough. There's only one option for me there, play big
and play aggressive. A lot of times it works out.”
The 21-year-old Jack Sock booked a semi-final with Isner with a 7-6
6-2 win over Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko, assuring the home nation of
someone to cheer in the final.
[to top of second column] |
The other semi-final will be fought out between German Benjamin
Becker and Israel’s Dudi Sela.
Becker took out Thiemo De Bakker of the Netherlands in straight
sets, winning 6-4 6-2 in just over an hour. Sela upset fourth seeded
Canadian Vasek Pospisil 7-5 1-6 6-2
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