By Erik Gudris | Friday, March 14, 2014

 

John Isner got the better of Ernests Gulbis in two tense tiebreaks to set up a semifinal meeting with Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells.

Photo Credit: AP

John Isner advanced into the BNP Paribas Open semifinals by doing what he does best -- win tiebreaks.

The lone American left in the draw entered his quarterfinal with the opportunity to climb back into the ATP top 10 should he beat Latvia's Ernests Gulbis. With a focused Gulbis looking to play spoiler, it made for a drama-free opening set with neither man earning an early advantage.

While Isner's first serve, as expected, did the damage, it was his poor second serve percentage that allowed Gulbis to keep in touch with the American. Isner saved one set point against him late in the set and soon forced a tiebreak. With each holding their serve, it took Isner winning a backhand-to-backhand exchange during a 28-shot rally to claim a mini break.

From there, Isner closed out the set 7-6(4).

Suffering a lull, Isner dropped his next service game at love to let Gulbis enjoy an early break lead in the second set. Gulbis, looking tense in his own deliveries, would fight off multiple break points in several games to keep ahead. Isner would create opportunities to break Gulbis, only to play tentative in the break points.

Gulbis would serve to force a deciding set, but again nerves got the better of him. Dumping a backhand into the net down break point, Gulbis let Isner back into the set for 5-all. Both needed another tiebreak to settle the set and once again serve was key. Gulbis double faulted to allow Isner to open up a 4-2 lead that the American would not relinquish.

On match point, Isner ripped a down the line backhand winner to seal the 7-6(4), 7-6(3) victory.

The winners and unforced errors stats were almost even for both men. Gulbis hit 24 winners and 26 unforced errors while Isner struck 28 winners and 25 errors.

Isner now finds himself back in the semifinals at Indian Wells for the first time since 2012 when he reached the finals that year.

Djokovic Blows Past Benneteau

Waiting for Isner in the semis, as was the case two years ago, will be No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic.

Despite playing in scratchy form for most of the event, Djokovic played a much cleaner match in his quarterfinal against France's Julien Benneteau.

Needing only 28 minutes, Djokovic wrapped up the opening set 6-1. Though Benneteau would climb out to a 3-2 lead in the second set, it was only a temporary advantage. Benneteau would double fault down 0-40 on his serve at 4-3. That would allow Djokovic to roll on and win 6-1, 6-3.

Djokovic reflected on his loss to Isner ahead of their semifinal meeting on Saturday.

"I played John here a few years ago and I remember that match. 7-6 in the third, and also lost to him very close one in Cincinnati last year," Djokovic said to ATP.com. "He's definitely not somebody you like to play in the big heat with such serve. It's very challenging because he doesn't miss his serve too much, so you have to kind of be able to hold your composure from the first to the last point and be ready to play three tie-breaks."

Alexandr Dolgopolov and Roger Federer will contest the second semifinal.