By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Juan Martin del Potro used his wide wingspan to save set point and downsize John Isner, 6-4, 7-6 (6) at the Stockholm Open.
Photo credit: Shanghai Rolex Masters
Rarely does 6'6" Juan Martin del Potro look up to an opponent.
The 2009 US Open champion faced a massive obstacle in the form of 6'10" John Isner.
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Del Potro put his wide wingspin great use denying a set point to downsize Isner, 6-4, 7-6 (6), and set up a Stockholm Open second-round meeting with Nicolas Almagro.
In a match of big servers, del Potro served 74 percent, drilled nine aces and did not face a break point against the towering American.
It was del Potro's first win over Isner since he defeated the former all American in three sets in the 2013 Washington, DC final. Del Potro has won five of seven meetings with Isner.
Holding a 40-15 lead in the fifth game, Isner lost the plot dropping four consecutive points. He spit up a double fault to gift the break and a 3-2 lead to del Potro.
A resolute del Potro crashed a biting serve to seal the first set in 33 minutes. Del Potro permitted just one point on his second serve in the opening set.
The second set escalated into the tie break.
Isner, who had posted a 26-28 tie break record this season, served to force a final set at 6-5 in the breaker, but couldn't seal the deal.
Cranking a twisting kick serve out wide, Isner was already inside the baseline when del Potro sprang into a full-stretch backhand return. The ball floated inches inside the baseline forcing a surprised Isner to scramble backward to hit a forehand.
The big man netted a backhand pass attempt as del Potro dodged set point. Isner flattened a forehand into net then sprayed a forehand as del Potro raised his record to 24-1 on the season.
The tie break was a sink hole for Isner and a spring board for compatriot Jack Sock, who partnered Isner to the Shanghai Rolex Masters doubles title on Sunday.
Sock failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the final set today, but shook off that lapse winning six of the final seven points outdueling Malek Jaziri, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Serving for the second round, Sock charged forward, but his backhand volley lacked sharp angle. Jaziri bolted a backhand pass down the line to break back.
Rallying from 1-4 down in the tie break, Sock snapped off a smash with such authority it sent Jaziri leaping into the second round trying to run it down.
That shot leveled the breaker. Sock unleashed a heavy inside-out forehand for match point. Blasting a forehand return down the line, Sock sealed the win.
The 23rd-ranked Sock will play Dustin Brown for a place in the final eight. Sock beat Brown at Roland Garros this season in their lone prior meeting.
Swedish teenage wild card Mikael Ymer applied his speed and forehand to create some flashy exchanges with towering Ivo Karlovic.
Ultimately, the third-seeded Karlovic subdued the 18-year-old Swede, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Ranked No. 549, Ymer earned his first ATP win yesterday surprising former No. 7 Fernando Verdasco, 6-2, 6-1.
Playing to become the first 18-year-old to reach the last eight in Stockholm since Kei Nishikori in 2008, Ymer actually defended his second serve better than ATP ace leader Karlovic. Ymer won 64 percent of second-serve points (20 of 31), while Karlovic prevailed on 50 percent (14 of 28) second serves.
"It was a really difficult match," Karlovic said. "He's really young and he was doing unbelievable. In the beginning, I was struggling with my shots. But he was always on the ball, he was doing everything right.
"So I'm just happy I was able to win."
Nine years after lifting the Stockholm title, Karlovic is first through to the quarterfinals where he will play either del Potro or Nicolas Almagro.