Isner Edges Querrey at ASB Classic
In an all-American second-round bout at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, the top-ranked man from the United States John Isner outlasted Sam Querrey 7-6(8), 6-7(4), 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
“It was obviously a very close match,” said Isner. “I considered it pretty much a coin flip out here tonight, and I was fortunate to win.”
This match went about as expected between the two big-hitting players. Isner fired 31 aces while Querrey hit 21 of his own, and there were no break points through the first two sets.
Isner won the opening set in a tiebreaker and Querrey took the second in a tiebreaker, sending the match into a deciding third set. At 3-3 in the decider, Isner broke through with the match’s only break, and went on to serve out the two hour and 13 minute match.
Isner’s win sets up a matchup with eighth-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut, who dismissed American Donald Young 6-4, 7-6(3) in his second-round match on Wednesday.
Jack Sock booked his spot in the final eight by downing former doubles partner Vasek Pospisil 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday.
Sock converted on three of his 10 break point chances to cruise past Pospisil in straight sets. His return game will need to be on point again on Thursday when he tangles with fourth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson.
Anderson defeated Robin Haase of the Netherlands 7-6(8), 7-6(5) on Wednesday.
The tournament’s top seed, David Ferrer, rolled into the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4 over British qualifier Matthew Barton. The four-time Auckland champion will face the Czech Republic’s Lukas Rosol, who scored a 6-4, 7-6(5) upset over fifth-seeded Frenchman Benoit Paire.
The other Auckland quarterfinal will see second-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga take on sixth-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini.
