John Isner edges past Kevin Anderson into the third round – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012
World number 12, John Isner of USA, kept alive his chances of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals by toppling South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in the second round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Tuesday.
It was a match which did not see a single break of serve from its beginning to end. All three sets went to tie-breakers and Isner managed to clinch victory 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 7-6(7) in two hours and 45 minutes.
A battle of big serves begun from the start of the match, as none of the two players allowed the other to create any break opportunity in the first set, equalising the proceedings at 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. They went on
equal terms in the first four points to take it to 2-2 but then Isner grabbed five of the next six points to seal it 7-6(3).
Second set also went smoothly on serve in the first 10 games to level the score at 5-5. Isner faced three consecutive break threats in the 11th, as he went down 0-40 but the American star claimed five points in a row
to hold. Anderson won his own serve comfortably to take it to second straight tie-breaker. Both players went neck to neck till 8-8 but then Anderson succeeded in capturing two points in a row to triumph 7-6(8).
Proceedings of the decider were not much different from the first two sets, as Isner and Anderson did not drop their serve till the end, forcing third tie-breaker. Anderson created three match points but squandered all of them,
with the American player making full use of the life line to clinch it 7-6(7).
Isner said, while talking to the reporters after the match, "Really we both served well. It's one of the few times where, I don't think I was out served, but he served right up there with me as far as aces, percentages, what not.
So we both were serving exceptionally well. It came down to a few points here or there, and I was able to pull it out. It was looking bleak for a little bit. I served well enough to maybe win in two sets, but I had to win in three. I'm very, very excited to
get through. I know I easily could have lost that one."
The American contender is slated to meet the 11th seed, Richard Gasquet, or Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek in the third round.
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