It took over two hours, but Tomas Berdych ousted John Isner from the 2015 Madrid Open lining him up to go against Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. It was an evenly matched game and well worth the watch as the two champs fought hard to the end to stay in the open.
Tomas Berdych fought back from the jaws of defeat on Friday for a semi-final clash against four-time former champion Rafael Nadal at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Sixth seed Berdych saved one match point at 5-6 in the second set tie-break en route to a 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(1) victory over John Isner, the No. 16 seed.
It was Berdych’s 30th match win of the season, which has seen him reach the quarter-final (or better) at all eight of the tournaments he has played.
Berdych saved one match point when Isner was unable to return a first serve into court. Berdych then took a 7/6 lead in the second set tie-break, which Isner recovered by serving an ace, his 21st. Berdych went on to attack a forehand, then heads to the net, before playing a fine forehand volley winner for 8/7 – a second set point opportunity. Isner struck a crosscourt forehand wide to send the pair’s ninth meeting into a third set.
Isner had been bidding to follow in the footsteps of Robby Ginepri, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2005 semi-finals. He struck 29 aces, but Berdych won 86 percent of his first service points and hit 11 aces for victory in two hours and 10 minutes.