A strange day in Delray Beach.
John Isner survives world no. 75 Dudi Sela in 3 sets. The trickiest part of match was when John was 2-5 down in the tiebreak to then win 5 consecutive points and wrap up the match in 1 hour and 56 minutes.
Isner “He got a lot of returns back blocking them back and spun his web on me when we were both on the baseline. It definitely didn’t need to be 7-6 in the third. I had four match points in that 5-4 game. It puts a lot of stress on me playing matches like that but I always seem to do it. But I’m glad to get through. I don’t think I have lost a three-set match this year and I’m proud of that.”
Isner will play in the quarters again fellow American Rhyne Williams (world no. 146) that came straight from the qualification.
Nishikori
In the other matches Nishikori had to retire when he was 4-2 down against Gabashvili because of a left hip injury. “I had been feeling it before my first match and I played through it,” Nishikori said. “But I just couldn’t do anything today. It didn’t get better. It’s going to take some time to recover.”
Karlovic
Ivo had to retire when he was 1-0 down against Anderson for stomach virus.
Hewitt
Lleyton also retired after he was 7-6 (2) down against his friend and fellow countryman Matosevic for a shoulder injury
Here the quarters line up
Johnson – Lopez
Anderson – Matosevic
Cilic – Gabashvili
Williams – Isner