John Isner struggles past Marcos Baghdatis into the semi-final – Winston-Salem Open 2011
Swirling through prior stages, John Isner went from excellent to mind blowing. Playing the quarter-final round of Winston-Salem Open 2011, the gigantic superstar aimed out to pound his challenger, the Cyprus world No.60 Marcos
Baghdatis, and grabbed a seat closer to the final round.
Playing at the Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, USA the American bounced back, after a slow start, beating the former world No.8 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 and into the semis. A huge applaud was given by the fans as the huge local lad
walked out on the hard court and took their positions.
Isner, world No.28, walked off with a bye in the 1st round, however, cleared up the next with mere difficulty and into the quarter-final. Formerly ranked world No.18, the 6ft 9in American has certainly made his serve
and long arms an easy way to win crucial points.
Aged 26, Isner has been much more consistent that his previous follow-ups. Nevertheless, the home player started up slow but managed to regain the lead as went on against his 4th round challenger.
Eager to take his revenge for the Rogers Cup knockout earlier this year, Baghdatis cleared up his first three round beating his challenger in straight sets. Ranked world No. 60, the Cypriot seemed stable and convincing enough to
clear into the semis, however, a fast start went up ending even faster but with a disastrous ending.
Kicking off with the quarter-final, Baghdatis opened up starter taking out game-1 and switching the serve. Isner followed with a win in the next game to level the scores with the former world No.8 to serve again.
Baghdatis went on holding his serve in game-3. The Cypriot was fabulous as he broke the American twice in the set, in game-4 and game-6, leading 5-1 and eventually finishing off a marvellous run winning the set 6-1.
Continuing with set 2, Isner took the advantage serve and led the game, 1-0. Following the American, Baghdatis levelled up instantly and stood to play the world No.28 once again. The two levelled up once again at 2-2 before the
26-year-old broke free.
Winning game-5, Isner broke the former world No.8 and led 4-2. Although Baghdatis did cut the lead breaking back in the next game, the gigantic server was turning out to be sensational. Winning his 2nd breakpoint, Isner
took a 5-3 lead before he finished off winning 6-3 and levelled up the scores, 1-1.
Storming down again on his challenger, Baghdatis served first in the decider; however, the brilliant local lad returned and levelled up at every point. Even though the Cypriot seemed much more stable and aggressive, he could not
deal with the blazing aces the 6’9” served.
Levelling up at 4-4 in the decider, Isner stunned Baghdatis when he struck back breaking the world No.60 and went on finishing the decider and the match in his favour. The two battled out for almost 2 hours before the American
cheered up his fans win a big win and qualifying into the semis.
Grabbing on to the semis chair, the 26-year-old stands to play his fellow countryman and top seed Andy Roddick to battle out for the final round of the Winston-Salem Open 2011.
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