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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, November 3, 2017

 
John Isner

John Isner defused Juan Martin del Potro, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4, denying the Argentine's bid to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals, while keeping his London hopes alive.

Photo credit: Rolex Paris Masters Facebook

Juan Martin del Potro took the court in Paris today with a clear mission: Win and he’d be in the ATP World Tour Finals.

A weary del Potro ran into a massive roadblock fueled by a clear quest of his own.

More: Nadal Pulls Out Of Paris

John Isner defused del Potro, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4, charging into the Rolex Paris Masters semifinals for the third time while keeping his hopes for securing the eighth spot in the World Tour Finals alive.




The 14th-ranked American slashed 15 aces, won 85 percent of his first-serve points and did not face a break point defeating del Potro for the third time in nine meetings.

It was Isner’s third straight three-set triumph in Bercy, following his opening-round win over Diego Schwartzman.

Isner, who fought off a match point rallying past Grigor Dimitrov in a third-set tie break yesterday, can qualify for London—and clinch another season as year-end American No. 1—if he wins his next two matches to capture his first career Masters title.

"I took court knowing I’ve been playing pretty well and also playing with house money because of yesterday being down 5-2 in last set," said Isner, who has 60 aces in three wins this week. "I sort of escaped yesterday. I was given new life today and took advantage of it."

Pablo Carreno Busta currently occupies the eighth and final spot for the World Tour Finals.

The Spaniard will advance to London if both Isner and Jack Sock fail to win Paris. If either American takes the title on Sunday, he will clinch the final spot in London.

The 32-year-old Isner will play 77th-ranked Filip Krajinovic for a spot in Sunday’s final.

The Serbian qualifier advanced to his first Masters semifinal when world No. 1 Rafael Nadal conceded a walkover, withdrawing from today’s scheduled quarterfinal due to a knee injury.

A red-hot del Potro took the court today with a 20-4 record since the start of the US Open, including his 20th career title in Stockholm and a trip to the Basel final where he fell to world No. 2 Roger Federer on Sunday.

While del Potro could still land a London spot as an alternate, which could lead to a playing position if Nadal's knee prevents him from playing, he told the media afterward he plans to head home to Argentina.




Playing for the fifth consecutive week took a clear toll on the 2009 US Open champion. Del Potro lacked the legs and physicality to stop Isner.

A weary del Potro did not match Isner’s intensity or aggression in the opening set.

The 2009 US Open champion did not do enough with an inside-out forehand and Isner laced a backhand pass down the line for double-set point.

Del Potro did not consistently strike his massive forehand with his usual menace and grabbed as his back at times in apparent pain.




Swarming net, Isner pounced on a tame backhand pass and knocked off a stretching forehand volley winner to break and take a one-set lead.

Isner, who held a 30-3 record when winning the opening set this season, made the world No. 19 feel pressure on his second serve, winning 12 of 24 points played on the Argentine’s second serve.




In the opening game of the second set, del Potro bashed a running forehand—typically his strongest shot—into the ground on his side of the court before it even hit the net.




Deadlocked at 4-all, Isner flicked a forehand drop shot that kissed the top of the tape and dribbled over sealing his hold in the ninth game.

Rapping an inside-out forehand, del Potro forced the tie break as Paris fans erupted in a “Delpo! Delpo!” chant in an effort to rouse the Argentine.

An inside-out forehand followed by a poked backhand pass down the line gave del Potro a 4-3 tie break lead. Del Potro fooled Isner with a slice second serve out wide for set point. And when Isner skipped a double fault off the tape, del Potro leveled to force the final set with both men’s London aspirations on the line.

Squandering a 40-15 lead in the third game of the third set, del Potro double faulted to face break point. The 6-foot-6 Argentine hunched over leaning on his racquet and clutching at his lower back.

A big serve down the middle elicited a mid-court reply, but del Potro bashed a diagonal forehand wide as Isner broke with a clenched fist for 2-1.

After a fired-up Isner breezed through a love hold to back up the break on an eight-point run, del Potro paced in a small circle behind the baseline appearing in discomfort with his hands on hips.

Del Potro called for a consultation with the trainer after the fifth game, but did not take a medical timeout before returning to the court.

Serving for the semifinals, Isner opened with an ace but scattered a forehand to fall to 30-all.

A jamming body serve on a second serve gave the former all American from Georgia a match point. Isner zapped a serve out wide to close in two hours, 10 minutes.

The 2016 Paris finalist now stands two wins from booking his spot in London.

 

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