American tennis player John Isner is moving on to the third round of the 2015 Madrid Open after defeating Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci 7-6(5), 6-7(11), 6-1 on Wednesday and will be facing either Roger Federer or rising Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios. Isner is proving himself to also be a rising star coming back from some low times, but he’s not obviously got his eye on moving as far as he can in this Open, but facing Roger Federer isn’t an easy task.
The top American led 6-4 in the second set tie-break and had a third match point at 8-7, but was unable to put away Bellucci in straights, who converted on his fifth set point to force a decider. Isner would settle down in the third set, however, racing out to a 5-0 lead before clinching the win after two hours and 12 minutes.
“I’m actually glad I lost that second set, because it allowed me to play fantastic in the third set,” Isner admitted. “I had match points in the second set tie-break and one on my serve. Usually I’m good in that situation. Not this time, but I put it behind me. I played one of the best third sets I’ve played all year.”
The 30 year old, who fired 23 aces and denied the lone break point faced, has equaled his best result in the Spanish capital. He advanced to the third round on two previous occasions in 2010 (l. to Nadal) and ’14 (l. to Ferrer).
Sixth seed Tomas Berdych and No. 12 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will meet for the eighth time on the ATP World Tour after both securing their spots in the Madrid third round on Wednesday.
“The key was to stay focused,” said Tsonga. “I was playing well in the beginning and then he came back in the match. I fought and tried to continue to be consistent.
“It’s always difficult to come back (from injury). It’s not easy every day but I continued to fight and I’m sure it’s going to be better and better.”
Berdych denied last week’s Millennium Estoril Open champion Richard Gasquet 7-6(3), 7-5 in one hour and 37 minutes, while Tsonga handed Jack Sock his first defeat on clay this year, prevailing 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4). Berdych, a finalist in Madrid in 2012, will look to reach a tour-leading eighth quarter-final this year.