Cianne
08-04-2007, 10:31 PM
Isner dominated the SEC and NCAA in both singles and doubles over the past couple years. I'd imagine it's pretty cool for the Georgia fans who followed their tennis program to see him in an U.S. Open Series finals against the top American player.
ESPN - Roddick, Isner to square off in Legg Mason final - Tennis (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2961352)
Roddick, Isner make all-American final at Legg Mason
WASHINGTON -- Andy Roddick's hustle and John Isner's perseverance helped set up an unlikely all-American final at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Roddick outlasted Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) to reach the final of this tournament for the third time. Isner, playing in just his second ATP tour event, advanced with a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) victory over No. 9 Gael Monfils -- the fifth straight day he won a third-set tiebreaker.
If Sunday's final comes down to a tiebreaker, it could be hard to pick a favorite. Roddick is 27-7 in tiebreakers this year, but no one has played more this week than Isner. He is 7-3 in tiebreakers in the tournament, including wins over Tim Henman, Benjamin Becker, Wayne Odesnik and Tommy Haas.
"I'll take that, that's for sure," Isner said when asked about a third-set tiebreaker against Roddick. "If he'll agree to that, I'm all for it."
In his match, Roddick had 12 aces and saved his best shot to set up match point. With Karlovic serving at 5-all in the second-set tiebreaker, Roddick sprinted across the court to reach the Croatian's backhand volley, and curled a backhand winner up the line.
"He normally goes to the open court on his volley, so as soon as I hit the return I just took off," said Roddick, who won in 2001 and 2005. "I didn't actually see it land, but the crowd let me know it was in."
Roddick closed out the match on the next point when Karlovic hit a backhand into the net.
Roddick is 23-3 at this tournament, and has won eight straight matches dating to his run to the title in 2005. He missed last year's tournament because of an injury.
Karlovic, who had 19 aces, had chances to win the first set. He forced Roddick to come up with a forehand volley winner to save a set point while serving at 4-5. Karlovic also had a 4-1 lead in the first set tiebreaker and another set point with Roddick serving at 6-7, but his backhand return went long. Roddick won the next two points to end the first set.
"I think that maybe sounds a lot better than it was as far as a comeback," said Roddick, who had no break chances. "You just stick around. If you worry about being down, then you're not going to get it back to neutral."
Aside from the tiebreakers, neither player had much success against his opponent's serve. Roddick drew an ovation in the first set when he held for 4-all with a 151-mph ace.
In the final set, it looked as though Isner wouldn't get to the tiebreaker as he lost serve to give Monfils a 6-5 lead. But he responded with a break to take the match to the distance again. The two breaks of serve were the only ones in either semifinal match.
"It was almost over," said Monfils, who emphatically pumped his fists to the crowd after winning that game. "I think I put too much pressure on me."
Monfils had 25 aces and had a chance to avoid a third set, but failed to take advantage of two break points with Isner serving at 2-3 in the second. But Isner held after the fourth deuce of the game, and eventually forced the second tiebreaker.
Isner, who had 23 aces, lost the first point of the final tiebreaker on his serve. However, he won the final six points and dropped to the court in disbelief after hitting the final overhead.
"One win would be special, let alone five," Isner said. "I don't know how I've done it."
ESPN - Roddick, Isner to square off in Legg Mason final - Tennis (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2961352)
Roddick, Isner make all-American final at Legg Mason
WASHINGTON -- Andy Roddick's hustle and John Isner's perseverance helped set up an unlikely all-American final at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Roddick outlasted Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) to reach the final of this tournament for the third time. Isner, playing in just his second ATP tour event, advanced with a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) victory over No. 9 Gael Monfils -- the fifth straight day he won a third-set tiebreaker.
If Sunday's final comes down to a tiebreaker, it could be hard to pick a favorite. Roddick is 27-7 in tiebreakers this year, but no one has played more this week than Isner. He is 7-3 in tiebreakers in the tournament, including wins over Tim Henman, Benjamin Becker, Wayne Odesnik and Tommy Haas.
"I'll take that, that's for sure," Isner said when asked about a third-set tiebreaker against Roddick. "If he'll agree to that, I'm all for it."
In his match, Roddick had 12 aces and saved his best shot to set up match point. With Karlovic serving at 5-all in the second-set tiebreaker, Roddick sprinted across the court to reach the Croatian's backhand volley, and curled a backhand winner up the line.
"He normally goes to the open court on his volley, so as soon as I hit the return I just took off," said Roddick, who won in 2001 and 2005. "I didn't actually see it land, but the crowd let me know it was in."
Roddick closed out the match on the next point when Karlovic hit a backhand into the net.
Roddick is 23-3 at this tournament, and has won eight straight matches dating to his run to the title in 2005. He missed last year's tournament because of an injury.
Karlovic, who had 19 aces, had chances to win the first set. He forced Roddick to come up with a forehand volley winner to save a set point while serving at 4-5. Karlovic also had a 4-1 lead in the first set tiebreaker and another set point with Roddick serving at 6-7, but his backhand return went long. Roddick won the next two points to end the first set.
"I think that maybe sounds a lot better than it was as far as a comeback," said Roddick, who had no break chances. "You just stick around. If you worry about being down, then you're not going to get it back to neutral."
Aside from the tiebreakers, neither player had much success against his opponent's serve. Roddick drew an ovation in the first set when he held for 4-all with a 151-mph ace.
In the final set, it looked as though Isner wouldn't get to the tiebreaker as he lost serve to give Monfils a 6-5 lead. But he responded with a break to take the match to the distance again. The two breaks of serve were the only ones in either semifinal match.
"It was almost over," said Monfils, who emphatically pumped his fists to the crowd after winning that game. "I think I put too much pressure on me."
Monfils had 25 aces and had a chance to avoid a third set, but failed to take advantage of two break points with Isner serving at 2-3 in the second. But Isner held after the fourth deuce of the game, and eventually forced the second tiebreaker.
Isner, who had 23 aces, lost the first point of the final tiebreaker on his serve. However, he won the final six points and dropped to the court in disbelief after hitting the final overhead.
"One win would be special, let alone five," Isner said. "I don't know how I've done it."