John Isner (22) defeated his third ATP ‘young gun’ in a row when he defeated Kei Nishikori (4) 6-4, 6-3 in the ATP 1000 Miami Open quarter-finals. The win put Isner into the Miami Open semi-finals for the first time and also revealed the American was much more than just a big serve.
The match took its twist at 5-4 Isner returning when the American reached 0-30 on the Nishikori serve with a forehand down the line winner. Isner then hit a backhand cross-court return on the rise, forcing Nishikori to shank his forehand, and earning break point.
Back court winners, break points, these were supposed to be Nishikori’s strengths, but not, it seemed, today.
The break point illustrated that this was meant to be Isner’s day. The American went for broke break point up, hitting an angled forehand cross-court which hit the net cord and then dropped dead on Nishikori’s side of the court. Fortune favors the brave may be a cliche, but it is also very true.
In the second set, leading 1-0 , Isner earned three break points when he hit a forehand return winner down the line. The 22nd seed then converted the break point when he rallied with Nishikori from the baseline, proving to be the more patient of the two as Nishikori broke down first, going for a forehand cross-court winner and firing it long.
Isner’s cry of ‘Yeah’ was understandable. Return winners, playing the steadier tennis in baseline rallies- Isner was not reading the script, he was writing a new one.
A script starring an Isner who was more than just a serve. One featuring a location with the right conditions for the plot to unfold in – the afternoon heat helping his serve fly faster through the air, the slow surface giving him time to get to balls, time to unleash his forehand, executing in areas he was not just expected to perform, but also in aspects of the game in which he was greatly underestimated.
There were surprises more to come- the highlight being when Isner, leading 3-0, struck a backhand down the line winner, changing the direction of the ball against one of the game’s masters of that play, to end another hard hit rally to earn break-point.
No wonder Isner was smiling.
At 5-3, Isner served for the match. A forehand down the line winner, a perfect forehand volley, another forehand volley winner, and Isner had three match points.
The American took it on his second one with the weapon he is most known for doing damage with, his 12th ace, the shot he has built his career around, ending a 70 minute exhibition of all the other shots he can execute.
Isner also, in defeating Nishikori, executed his third higher seed in a row. And not just any old seeds either. In taking out Dimitrov (9), Raonic (5), and Nishikori, Isner had beaten all three of the ATP’s top-ranked ‘young guns’. Add into that mix the world Junior No. 1 Andrey Rublev the American beat in the first round, and 29 year old Isner had put paid to quite a few future world No.1s.
Next, Isner will have to take on his generation, the old guard, and all more highly accomplished than him. He would have to beat either Ferrer or Djokovic in the semi-finals, and then one of Tomas Berdych or Andy Murray for the title.
But in a week in which Isner has been tearing up the script with his return and back court game as much as he has been tearing through the court with his serve, it would not be too surprising if he continued his role of the executioner, an assassin with more than just a serve as a weapon, but a very sharp, and stacked, tool box at his disposal.
Commentary by Christian Deverille.
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