Isner, Lopez advance to US clay court semis
John Isner, of the United States, and Feliciano Lopez of Argentina will meet in the semifinals after defeating their respective opponents at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston. AP
HOUSTON, Texas — World number 10 John Isner beat defending champion Ryan Sweeting 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/4) on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the $442,500 ATP US Men’s Clay Court Championship.
Isner, the second seed, fired 11 aces and saved all six break points that he faced in the all-American quarter-final to improve to 19-6 for the season and keep alive his hopes for a first clay-court title.
Isner, a runner-up last month at Indian Wells, will next face Spanish third seed Feliciano Lopez, who led 6-4, 2-2 when Carlos Berlocq of Argentina retired injured.
Lopez is chasing his third ATP title and his first on clay.
The other semi-final will see Argentine fourth seed Juan Monaco, who edged South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, take on US qualifier Michael Russell, who outlasted Ryan Harrison 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 in another all-American quarter-final.
Monaco, ranked 16th, won his fourth career ATP title, and first since 2007, in February at Vina del Mar and reached the semi-finals last month at Miami, losing to eventual winner, world number one Novak Djokovic.
Anderson, ranked 33rd, was denied a chance for his second title in as many months after taking his second career ATP crown last month at Delray Beach, Florida.
Russell, a 33-year-old hometown hero, reached his first career ATP semi-final by holding off 19-year-old Harrison.
