Johnson Upends Isner in Washington; Top Seeds Berdych and Raonic Advance

Steve Johnson was the lone American to win at the Citi Open on Wednesday, defeating 12th ranked player in the world and fellow American John Isner 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(6) to move into the third round in Washington, D.C.

The key to the match was Johnson’s ability to hold his serve throughout. The 6’10” Isner relies heavily on his serve and managed to smash 29 aces in the three-set bout, but Johnson afforded him no break points of his own.

The 24-year old Johnson earned one break point against the Isner serve which allowed him to take control in the third set. The fifth-seeded Isner, who received a bye into the second-round, was unhappy with the match being played on Grandstand 1 rather than center court.

“I didn’t like playing out there,” said Isner. “I like my chances better on center court, but he beat me fair and square.”

Johnson now moves into a third-round matchup with ninth-seeded Croatian Ivo Karlovic.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori outlasted American Sam Querrey in their matchup yesterday to notch the 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory. The fourth-seeded Nishikori had lost the previous three matches he played versus Querrey, but was able to come out on top in the tight contest.

“It was tough. He was serving great,” said Nishikori. I have to take a little chance when he’s serving and I did that in the last set. I stayed solid from the baseline and concentrated on my service games. It was a good finish. There were some tight moments but I’m very happy with the way I’m playing.”

Currently ranked 11th, Nishikori became the first Japanese player ever to crack the top 10 earlier this year. This is his first tournament since being ousted in the fourth-round at Wimbledon, and will seek to advance to the quarterfinals in Washington when he takes on Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko on Thursday.

Top-seeded Tomas Berdych disposed of American qualifier Robby Ginepri 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday. The Czech had no problems with Ginepri, picking up points on 84 percent of his first-serves in a match that lasted just over an hour. He also notched four break-points on five opportunities to tame the American.

“I felt good on the court. My goal was to be focused, especially after having a few weeks off,” said Berdych, who is playing in his first tournament since Wimbledon earlier this month. “I’m happy to be back on the hard courts. This is my favorite surface and suits my game the most.”

Berdych will meet Canadian Vasek Pospisil in the third-round. Pospisil knocked off American Rajeev Ram on Wednesday.

American Jack Sock’s tournament came to an end on Wednesday as he fell to Canadian Milos Raonic. The second-seeded Raonic smashed 16 aces and won both sets in tiebreakers to move past Sock 7-6(3), 7-6(3).

“I knew it was going to be a big challenge for me,” said Raonic referring to how well Sock has played in recent tournaments. “He’s gotten a lot of matches in this summer. I knew it was going to be a challenge for me today.”

Raonic will face 14th seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt for a spot in the quarterfinals.

There are eight matches on the slate for today’s action from Washington, D.C and the quarterfinals will be set by the day’s end. Three Americans remain in the draw as Johnson, Donald Young and Tim Smyczek will try and advance to the final eight later today.