Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Americans John Isner and Andy Roddick were
both quarterfinal winners on Friday at the Atlanta Open tennis event.
The top-seeded Isner had to wait out a lengthy rain delay during the first
set, but after play resumed he took a 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 victory over compatriot
Jack Sock on the hardcourts at Atlantic Station.
The 6-foot-9 Isner, fresh off his grass-court title in Newport last week, lost
to Mardy Fish in a pair of all-American Atlanta finals the last two years.
His next opponent will be thr fourth-seeded Roddick, who had no problems in a
6-3, 6-4 win against American Michael Russell.
An upset came when eighth-seeded Go Soeda whipped second-seeded fellow
Japanese Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-1 in 72 minutes. Nishikori was unable to break
his countryman on Day 5, while Soeda tallied four breaks en route to the
semis.
One other Day-5 quarterfinal saw lefthander Gilles Muller of Luxembourg defeat
Aussie Matthew Ebden 6-4, 6-4. The big-serving bout featured 23 aces,
including 12 from the winner.
Muller will meet Soeda on Saturday.
The winner of this $477,900 tournament will pocket $86,270.
The Sports Network