John Isner overpowers David Nalbandian in the second round – Australian Open 2012
Seeded at number 16 in the tournament, John Isner, battled past a former world number three, David Nalbandian, in a five set thriller at the Australian Open 2012 on Wednesday. He formulated a 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5), 10-8 victory over the Argentinean to advance into the third round at this first of the four Grand Slam events taking place on the hard courts in Melbourne, Australia.
World number 17, Isner, put up a solid display of tennis and outclassed the Argentinean in an almost four hour long marathon. He not only booked a spot in the round of 32 but also avenged his loss at the Heineken Open in Auckland last year. The American has now lowered the trail in the head-to-head series by 1-2 against Nalbandian.
Apart from a nervy start at the Margaret Court Arena, the Argentinean recreated his 2006 magic and pulled out opener in 47 minutes. He gifted away his serve in the second game but recovered in the fifth game. Nalbandian then capitalised on another break opportunity in the seventh game and eventually pocketed the set with a 6-4 win.
Isner carried his losing ways in the second set and failed to save the breakpoint he came across in the opening game. However, he snatched his break back in the very next game and kept remaining serves through exquisite forehands form his box of tricks. The American broke Nalbandian’s serve again in the eighth game and bagged the set by winning six games to three.
The 30-year-old Argentinean fought his way back in the match and after Isner held his serve in the fourth game, Nalbandian blasted flurry of groundstrokes to reel off the last four games in a row. He kept entire serves without facing any hindrance and cashed in half of the four break chances.
In the fourth set, both stars played their best tennis and held their entire serves. The set went to the tie-breaker where the higher ranked player, Isner, dominated and subsequently clinched the set with a 7-6(5) score line.
Isner carried his momentum from the fourth set into the final set and smoothly held his opening serve. He kept on plucking his serves after dusting away all five breakpoints he encountered. The American then cashed in one out of two break chances in the 18th game and sealed the deal with a 10-8 victory.
Next up for the high spirited American is the 18th seed, Feliciano Lopez, who dumped the Italian competitor, Flavio Cipolla, in straight sets to reach this spot.
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