Tag Archives: John Isner

del Potro Claims Third Citi Open Title…

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Juan Martin del Potro is three-for-three at Washington. D.C.’s Citi Open…

The 24-year-old Argentine tennis star, the tournament’s top seed, defeated John Isner 3-6, 6-1, 6-2  in the Citi Open final on Sunday to claim his third championship and 14th consecutive match in Washington.

Juan Martin del Potro

“His forehand is widely regarded as maybe the best in the world,” said Isner. “I couldn’t do anything about it. I actually wasn’t really surprised. I’ve seen him do that a lot of times. That’s what he does. He’s got a lot of talent, and a lot of talent on that forehand side.”

Back in 2009, del Potro followed up a title in the nation’s capital with a trophy at the U.S. Open, which starts in three weeks.

“Fantastic memories,” the seventh-ranked del Potro told the crowd.

When the Argentine arrived in Washington this time, he came with some questions about his body and his game. He hadn’t played a hard-court match since the spring. He hadn’t competed at all in nearly a month — a five-set loss on July 5 to No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the longest semifinal in Wimbledon history, more than 4½ hours. And he hadn’t fully tested the left knee he hyperextended in a tumble during a match at the All England Club.

“I’m surprised to win this tournament,” del Potro said.

del Potro added to his Washington titles from 2008 and 2009. He skipped the tournament for various reasons from 2010-12.

Next for del Potro are hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati. Those lead up to the U.S. Open, where Isner said del Potro will be “certainly one of the top favorites.”

del Potro Defeats Tommy Haas to Reach Citi Open Final

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Juan Martin del Potro may soon be celebrating a career quinceañera…

The 24-year-old Argentine tennis player – the top seed at Washington, D.C.’s Citi Open – beat third-seeded Tommy Haas 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the semifinals Saturday to earn a chance to claim his fifteenth career ATP title.

Juan Martin del Potro

del Potro stretched his winning streak at the hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open to 13 matches. He claimed the title at the Washington tournament in 2008 and 2009, then skipped it the past three years.

Trailing Haas 4-1 when a downpour caused a three-hour delay in play, 2009 U.S. Open champion stormed back to win four games in a row.

“The rain delay’s annoying. It bothers me a lot, actually,” said Haas, who showed frustration at various moments by spiking, tossing or kicking his racket. “Come back out there, and the momentum was really on my side, at least for the first set, I think. (If) it would have been mine, it would have been maybe a different match. But these are all the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and not worth talking about.”

Still, Haas actually held two set points late in the first, one of which del Potro erased with a 117 mph second-serve ace, and the other with a volley winner.

“He went for it,” said Haas, a finalist last year. “He deserved it.”

del Potro now faces John Isner in the finals on Sunday.

“Nobody can break his serve in this tournament. … Of course, sometimes you get frustrated when you can’t return his serve,” said del Potro, looking ahead to facing Isner.

Ferrer Helps Lead Spain into the Davis Cup Finals…

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David Ferrer is getting the superstar treatment in his native Spain…

The 30-year-old Spanish tenista beat John Isner on Sunday to put Spain up 3-1 and clinch the victory against the United States in the Davis Cup semifinals.

David Ferrer

Ferrer’s 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Isner helped Spain advance to the Davis Cup final for the ninth time.

Spain will now face off against the Czech Republic, which defeated Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Ferrer, Spain’s No. 1 player in the Davis Cup, needed two hours and 59 minutes to put away Isner, the U.S.’s No. 1 player.

“I’m very happy to make a Davis Cup final once again because I’ve always said that this competition is where I’ve had the most emotions and, especially, to be able to share this with this group, with these buddies that I get along so well with,” said Ferrer. “Making another final makes me proud.”

David Ferrer & Spain's Davis Cup Team

Spain will next face the Czech Republic November 16-18 in the Davis Cup tie.

Spain has 24 consecutive home wins and is closing in on the record of 28 set by Italy between 1949 and 1964.

“It takes a lot to get to the final, and since nobody has given us anything, we value it a lot,” Spanish Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja said.

Spain has won the Davis Cup five times, with the country’s most recent victory coming against Argentina last year in Seville.

Spain won tennis’ premier international team competition in 2000 and 2009 in Barcelona against Australia and the Czech Republic, respectively, in 2008 in Mar del Plata against Argentina and in Seville in 2004 against the United States.

“It’s a matter of doing things well to compete in finals. I’m very thankful for the effort of those who were able to come and of those who couldn’t,” Corretja said. “It’s very hard to make it at this level and the four who are here deserve it.”

After Ferrer’s win over Isner, Spain and the United States decided not to play the fifth match scheduled since the semis were decided.

Falla Ousts No. 11 Seed John Isner at Wimbledon…

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Alejandro Falla has dispatched the United States’ greatest hope in the men’s draw at Wimbledon…

The 28-year-old Colombian tenista—currently ranked No. 73 in the world—came back from the brink of defeat to take down the top-ranked American John Isner in the first round of the grass tournament on Monday.

Alejandro Falla

Isner, ranked No, 10 in the world, failed to convert a match point in the fourth set and lost to Falla by a final score of 6-4, 6-7 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5.

Isner— best known for winning the longest match in tennis history two years ago in the first round at the All England Club, when he edged Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set—has been eliminated in five sets in each of the past three Grand Slams.

“I’m just really down on myself right now,” he said. “I’m trying not to feel the outside pressure. There are some good things expected of me, and I’m glad I’m in that position, but I’m just not performing right now. It’s just ugly right now.”

The 6-foot-9 Isner notched 31 aces and said he has been pleased with his serve, but not the rest of his game.

Alejandro Falla

“Sometimes, and lately it has been happening quite a lot, I get out there in the match and I’m just so clouded,” he said. “I just can’t seem to figure things out. I’m my own worst enemy out there. It’s all mental for me, and it’s pretty poor on my part.”

Isner held a match point with Falla serving at 6-7 in the fourth set. The Colombian was on the ropes again serving at 5-all in the final set when he faced three break points, but Isner failed to convert them, then lost serve in the final game.

“I didn’t put my opponent away,” Isner said. “I had my chances, and I didn’t do it. It’s all on me.”

Meanwhile, this is Falla’s latest upset of a Top 10 player in a major tournament…

At the 2006 Wimbledon tournament, Falla upset 9th seed Nikolay Davydenko and at the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open he beat 9th seed Tommy Haas in straight sets.

Falla next faces Isner’s history-cohort Mahut in the second round.