John Isner battles past Gilles Muller into the title match – Atlanta Tennis Championships 2011
Third seed John Isner of USA reached his second successive final in Atlanta as he defeated world number 82 Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in three sets 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-1 in the semi-finals of Atlanta Tennis Championships at Racquet
Club of the South on Saturday. The American took two hours and 28 minutes to beat his opponent in a tough match.
Isner and Muller held their serve in the first ten games of the opening set and tied the score at 5-5. Both players faced a number of break points en route to levelling the score at 5-5. Isner even saved a set point in the tenth
game. The American broke Muller in the eleventh game and served out the set at 6-5.
The six feet and nine inches tall bombarded eleven aces and 69 percent of the first serves in the first set. Isner clinched 74 percent of the first service points and 58 percent of the second service points in the opening set.
The American saved both break points he faced and converted one of the two break points he received on Muller’s serve in the first set.
Isner and the Luxembourger failed to break each other throughout the second set, squaring off the score at 6-6 and forcing a tie-break. The American missed a couple of break chances in the eleventh game. Taking full advantage of
Isner’s lost opportunity, Muller grabbed three mini-breaks in the tie-break to seal it 7-3.
The Luxembourger kept his first serve percentage at 58 percent and fired seven aces in the second set. Muller captured 75 percent of the first service points and 15 percent of the first return points in the second set. The left-handed
saved both break points he faced in the second set.
After losing a tough second set, Isner came roaring into the deciding set. The American broke Muller in the second and fourth game, holding his three service games to race to a 5-0 lead. The Luxembourger held his serve in the sixth
game to reduce the trail to 1-5 but it was all over in the next game as Isner won his serve to grab the set 6-1.
A jubilant Isner said, after the match, "I've been waiting for this feeling for five months now. I returned great in the third set. You want to play break points aggressively; especially in third sets and especially in big matches."
The American will take on compatriot Mardy Fish in the final. The top seed and defending champion ousted world number 120 Ryan Harrison in the semi-finals.
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