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 7th, 2011.
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