Thunder and Lightning

Coverage

2010

Atlanta Tennis Championships

Sunday, 25 July 2010 08:15

Thunder and Lightning

Written by Christina Ward

Strong Serves
John Isner and Kevin Anderson played the first semifinal during yet another scorchingly hot afternoon. Isner faced two break points in his opening service game but held after serving three straight aces. Not surprisingly, the match did not have many rallies. Both players have thunderous serves and tried to conserve energy in the hot weather. Isner was very listless in the heat and made four double faults late in the second set. And Anderson said after the match that he was sweating through his shoes and slipping on the court.

After winning the first set 6-3, Isner was able to save two set points at 4-5 and at 5-6 in the second set. Anderson saved one match point at 6-7 in the tiebreak and won the next two points to send the match to a third set. Anderson was 0-7 on break point chances while Isner went two for two. Isner broke at 4-3 in the third set when Anderson hit only his second double fault of the match. The American said he was happy when the clouds blocked the sun and cooled the temperatures considerably at the beginning of the third set. Isner won just in time. The lightning siren went off just as he reached match point.

Isner served 20 aces in the match to Anderson's 14

Double Play
Lightning in the area delayed play for almost two hours and the doubles semifinal featuring Isner and James Blake against Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram had to be moved to Court 1, where it was received by a standing room only audience. Isner’s serve was not as strong as earlier in the day, but he looked like he had mostly recovered from his singles match. Blake and Isner had many chances to send the match into a super tiebreak after surrendering the first set. They were up a break twice in the second set and even had 0-40 on Lipsky’s serve to go up 5-2 before Lipsky and Ram won four straight points. Lipsky and Ram looked like the more experienced doubles players, which especially helped them when they had to play at the net. Lipsky and Ram won, 7-6(5), 7-6(5), and will play Rohan Bopanna and Kristof Vliegen, who beat Stephen Huss and Andre Sa, 7-5, 7-5, in the doubles final.

Scott Lipsky takes after his grandfather who had reached No. 2 in the world in table tennis

Outmaneuvered by Fish
Mardy Fish only served at 40 percent in the second singles semifinal, but did not get broken, only offering Andy Roddick three break point chances, all in his opening service game. Roddick played very far behind the baseline, like he has in his two previous matches this week. There were many long rallies, but Fish was the one who took advantage of the shots hit short into the court for winners. Roddick said he felt like this match was the best he has played this week but admitted to being outplayed by Fish. He was happy to get some match play in this week after taking a Wild Card into the tournament, since he has not played many matches since winning Miami in March due to taking time off, injury, and losing early at Wimbledon. Fish said this was one of the best wins of his career. This was Fish’s first win over Roddick since their first Tour-level meeting in 2003.

Fish is aiming for his second title in two weeks

Looking to the Final
Fish has made three finals in his last four tournaments. He also beat Isner in a close three-set match in their only meeting at San Jose last year. Isner is also having his best season and is into his fourth final of the year. Both men will be looking to win their second tournament of 2010. Fish has yet to lose a set during this tournament, but Isner is also feeling confident after having made comebacks in two of his matches. Fish has played all of his matches in the evening, so Isner might have an advantage in the afternoon heat, especially if the match goes to three sets.

More photos from Semifinals Day at the Atlanta Tennis Championships

Photos: Christina Ward