By Erik Gudris | Friday, July 31, 2015

 

Defending Atlanta Open champion John Isner will face fellow American Denis Kudla in the semifinals.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox

A pair of Americans find themselves in the semifinals of the BB&T Atlanta Open. For one it's a familiar place. For the other, it's brand new territory.

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Two-time defending champion and top seed John Isner struggled again but managed to come up the winner in his quarterfinal against Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania.

After grinding through a tough opening set that he ended up winning in a tiebreak, Isner used his massive serve to finally finish off Berankis in straight sets. With 33 aces, Isner completed the 7-6(5), 6-4 win to reach his sixth Atlanta semifinal in his career.

Isner will next face fellow American Denis Kudla who is now into his first ever career ATP semifinal. Kudla dismissed last year's finalist Dudi Sela earlier in the day 7-5, 6-0 in just 61 minutes.

Kudla, who came through qualifying, is enjoying a breakout summer that included reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon last month.

"To put in all those matches, it makes me feel good about myself," Kudla told ATP.com "I'm in good shape and can play with these guys at a consistent level. I knew coming in that I was playing well and belonged in the main draw. Going into qualies, I knew I could make a big run here if I could start it off well."

The second semifinal will feature a pair of veterans both aiming for the opportunity to reach the final.

In the night match. No. 2 seed Vasek Pospisil of Canada took on No. 5 seed Marcos Baghdatis. It was Baghdatis who stormed out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set over an erratic Pospisil. Yet the Canadian No. 2 found his game in time to break Baghdatis who served for the set.

Baghdatis eventually held on to take the set 6-4.

The second set proved closer as Pospisil used his abilities up at net to keep things close. Soon a tiebreak was needed and Pospisil jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Yet Baghdatis stormed back and created a match point after hitting a roundhouse forehand passing shot winner.

Baghdatis won a final extended rally after Pospisil sent a forehand long. With that Baghdatis celebrated the 6-4, 7-6(5) victory by kissing the stadium court. Atlanta is now the third ATP semifinal Baghdatis has reached this season as he now tries to reach his first final since 2011.

Next up for Baghdatis is the event's 2012 finalist in No. 7 seed Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. Muller defeated Japan's Go Soeda 7-5, 6-1.