Nishikori and Isner Storm into Memphis Quarterfinals

The highest-ranked American John Isner used his dominant serve to reach the Memphis Open quarterfinals, beating Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 6-4, 7-6(5) on Wednesday night.

Both players exchanged holds throughout the first nine games with neither play allowing even a break point chance. Down 4-5 and on serve, however, Dodig lost the first service game of the match and Isner captured the opening set.

The second frame was similar as both Isner and Dodig held serve through the first 10 games to bring it to 5-5. It would go to a tiebreaker where Isner got the early break advantage up 2-1 and never looked back, wrapping up the straight set win.

“It’s been a little bit since I’ve played a match and it’s never easy,” said Isner. “It wasn’t pretty, but I have tomorrow to work on things a bit.”

He will take on fellow American Sam Querrey in the next-round. Querrey rolled past American teenager Jared Donaldson 6-4, 6-1 to set up a rematch of the 2010 final in Memphis.

Querrey leads the all-time head to head matchup 2-1, but the two haven’t played in five years.

“We pretty much play the exact same schedule and haven’t seen each other in four years, which is bizarre,” said Isner of Querrey. “It’s a shame it’s in the quarterfinals. He’s my best friend on tour and I’m sure he’d say the same about me, but he won’t be my best friend come Friday.”

Top-seeded and two time defending champion Kei Nishikori got a scare from American qualifier Ryan Harrison, who won the first set before Nishikori rallied for the 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

“He played at a good level, but I wasn’t ready for the match in the first set,” said Nishikori. “I started playing a little bit better and stepping in more in the second set. Getting the break in the first game of the third set helped mentally as well. Sometimes it’s more important to win matches like this, but I will have to raise my level a little more for the quarterfinals.”

Nishikori is seeking to become the first player ever to win three straight Memphis Open titles. He will play American qualifier Austin Krajicek, who snuck past fifth-seeded Ivo Karlovic 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon.

The action continues this afternoon in Memphis with three more Americans look to reach the quarterfinals.