Monfils, Isner book Washington rematch

French top-seed set to take on American in Washington semi-final.

WASHINGTON:

French top-seed Gael Monfils and big-serving American John Isner booked a rematch of an epic 2007 semi-final showdown at the $1.4 million ATP Washington Classic.

Seventh-ranked Monfils ousted sixth-seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semis, while 35th-ranked Isner downed Serbian third-seed Viktor Troicki 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 for his 11th victory in 12 matches.

Isner, who owns a 3-2 career edge on the lanky speedster, won their first meeting four years ago in a Washington semi-final that went to three tie-breakers. The last played to a standing ovation, and proved the high point of the American’s breakthrough run to his first ATP final.

“That was kind of a spine-chilling goosebumps moment,” said Isner. “I will always remember this match.”

The other semi-final will be played between Donald Young, ranked 128th, and Czech Radek Stepanek, ranked 54th.





Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2011.