Isner/ Querrey outplay Kubot/ Marach in the quarter-final of Internazionali BNL d’Italia doubles
Another upset at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia took place as the unseeded American pair outplayed the Sixth seeded duo of Lukasz Kubot of Poland and Oliver Marach of Austria in the quarter-final clash of the tournament on Friday
afternoon. The Americans wrapped up the three-thriller at 1-6, 6-4, 12-10, taking one hour and thirty three minutes to qualify for the semi-finals of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 1000 tournament.
The contest was played at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy and the combination of Isner and Querrey kept its winning momentum going in the quarter-finals as well, registering their 12th victory of the running year. Isner
and Querrey had already defeated Kubot and Marach in doubles matchup last week in the round of 16 of Mutua Madrid Open and repeated the similar feat at Rome this time.
Kubot and Marach were off to a flyer in the opening sets and it appeared at a time as if they will easily take down the American duo with ease. They wrapped up the opener in an assertive manner but went through a drastic slump
in the very next set to let their opponents back in the game by gifting them the second set to level the contest at 1-1. The decider was extended to a total of 22 points before Kubot and Marach finally submitted the game to the aggressive Americans to end
their voyage at Rome.
Isner and Querrey had a sloppy start to the game and their opponents capitalized upon it by stinging three straight serve breaks to get to a substantial lead of 5-1, serving for the set. The Americans had four opportunities to
reply their competitors with serve breaks but frittered away all the chances.
Kubot and Marach sealed the opening set with authority at 6-1 but the agonised Americans forced their way right back in the following set. Isner and Querrey suffered two more serve breaks but clouted three break points to push
their opponent out of the second set. The American duo eventually levelled the competition at 6-4 to enforce a decisive third set.
The decider went on neck-to-neck as both teams were not prepared to submit the game. Isner and Querrey kept focused in the contest and reeled off three consecutive points to conclude the match at 12-10, to move one step further
in the tournament.
Isner and Querrey will square off against the home favourite wildcard pair of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in the semi-final encounter at Rome. The Italia duo made its way to the round of four by defeating the pair of Robert
Lindstedt of Sweden and Horia Tecau of Romania in the quarter-final round.
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