Murray Comes Back to Beat Isner in Shanghai
Third-seeded Andy Murray came back from a set down to beat 13th-seeded American John Isner 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Shanghai Rolex Masters quarterfinals on Thursday.
The first set was typical of an Isner match as neither play faced a break point on their own serve, forcing the opening frame into a tie-breaker.
The American secured the mini-break at 3-1 and went on to win the tie-breaker 7-4 to take the one-set advantage.
Murray’s return game picked up in the second set as he gave himself seven break point chances on the big serve of Isner. He finally secured a break point to go up 5-4, and consolidated it with a hold to even the match and force a deciding third set.
In the third set, Murray once again was able to give himself some chances on Isner’s serve. He had six break point chances, finally securing the break at 4-3, and went on to serve out the set and the match to reach the final eight in Shanghai.
“His serve is tough to read, obviously. He has a great serve. It’s hard to return in perfect conditions,” said Murray, who is now 5-0 all-time against Isner. “So when the ball is coming in and out of the shade, and his ball toss as well, it’s difficult. Then, when the sun went away, the court was played in the shade, I found it easier to see the serve. I made some adjustments to my return position, as well, which helped me. I created a lot of chances in the second and third sets.”
Murray moves on to play fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. Berdych cruised past 10th-seeded Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday.
Kevin Anderson upset Japan’s Kei Nishikori, moving past the sixth-seed in two tie-breakers for a 7-6(10), 7-6(3). Anderson will take on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals.
The 16th-seeded Frenchman came back from a set down to upend Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4.
Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic played the tightest match of the day in Shanghai, and it was the fourth-seeded Swiss who outlasted the 14th seeded Croat 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-4 to move on.
The French Open champion will take on eighth-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. Nadal outlasted ninth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic 6-3, 7-6(3).
“Winning a match 7-6 in the third yesterday and winning a match again today in the tiebreak of a second set, two tiebreaks without losing a point with my serve. That’s something that, a couple of months ago, would have been impossible for me,” said Nadal. “My serve obviously worked much better than yesterday, but when I play well on my service game, it’s not just because I serve well, but especially because I play well from the baseline.”
World number one Novak Djokovic had no problem reaching the quarterfinals, cruising past 15th seed Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday. He plays the winner of 11th seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Australian Bernard Tomic.
