Page 19 - Aruba Today

SPORTS A19
Friday 6 November 2015

Federer loses to

big-serving Isner

in Paris Masters

American’s John Isner returns the ball to Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their third round match beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimi- his head back in relief be-
of the BNP Masters tennis tournament at the Paris Bercy Arena, in Paris, France, Thursday, Nov. 5, trov 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4. fore shaking hands with the
2015. On Wednesday night, An- South African.
derson finished his second- Nadal next faces No. 4
Associated Press round, three-set match Stanislas Wawrinka of Swit-
against Austrian Dominic zerland, who beat Serbian
JEROME PUGMIRE served amazing. I feel very a sore arm, but quickly re- Thiem at 12:26 a.m. after Viktor Troicki 6-4, 7-5.
AP Sports Writer lucky to be through,” Nad- covered, insisting “it didn’t spending 2 hours, 45 min- Earlier, Djokovic extended
PARIS (AP) — Roger Feder- al said. affect me in the third set utes on court. his winning streak to 19
er finally cracked under the “This type of match a cou- and it’s not serious.” This time he finished just as matches despite dropping
unrelenting serve of John ple of months ago I would Isner called it one of the the clock struck midnight his serve five times.
Inser, losing 7-6 (3), 3-6, not have had chances to “top five” wins of his ca- after 2 hours, 27 minutes on “In sport there are days
7-6 (5) to the 13th-seeded win. In terms of mentality I reer. court. when you just lose your
American in the third round (am) more calm.” “He’s an incredible play- But it could have been rhythm.
of the Paris Masters on Top-ranked Novak Djokov- er, obviously. My favorite over quicker. You’re trying a bit too
Thursday. ic was not at his best, either, player and the greatest of At 6-5 up in the tiebreak, much and you lose a bit
The 17-time Grand Slam advancing to the quarterfi- all time,” Isner said. “It was and with Nadal on second of confidence,” Djokovic
champion looked like he nals by beating 14th-seed- a huge win for me. I’m very serve, Anderson failed to said. “It was frustrating ... It
might grind out a win, sav- ed Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-5. proud.” finish a long rally conclud- hasn’t happened to me for
ing all six break points and But Federer’s defeat came Isner saved a break point in ed by Nadal’s risky yet bril- a long time.”
fighting back from 6-2 as a genuine surprise. the fifth game of the third liant forehand winner into The 10-time Grand Slam
down in the decisive tie- Having won his sixth title of set with a deft backhand the top left corner. champion now plays No.
breaker. But the Swiss star’s the season and 88th of his volley. The Spaniard celebrated 5 Tomas Berdych of the
resistance ended when career at the Swiss Indoors “That arguably saved the with a yell and a fist pump, Czech Republic, who beat
Isner — who had 27 aces last Sunday, match for me,” said the clinched the set when a No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of
— hit a looping serve to his and after racing past Ital- 30-year-old, who next rattled Anderson sent a France 6-3, 6-4.
backhand. ian Andreas Seppi in just 47 faces No. 8 David Ferrer forehand into the net, and No. 2 Andy Murray had
“It’s tough going out of a minutes on Wednesday, he of Spain after he rallied to immediately broke Ander- the easiest path to the last
tournament without losing was full of confidence. son in the third set before eight, routing David Gof-
your serve,” the third-seed- Federer held a 5-1 career holding for 2-0. fin 6-1, 6-0 in a prelude to
ed Federer said. lead over Isner, beating Anderson fought back, the Davis Cup final later this
Fourteen-time major win- him in the U.S. Open fourth however, and Nadal need- month.
ner Rafael Nadal, seeded round this year. ed to save six break points Murray, who lost only eight
seventh, almost followed “I thought he did very well in a grueling fourth game points on his serve and
him through the exit door, today when he needed it,” lasting 12 minutes. broke the 16th-seeded Bel-
saving a match point in a Federer said. “I thought he That proved to be the end gian five times, opens Fri-
4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 win against served great.” of Anderson’s resistance. day’s quarterfinals against
11th-seeded Kevin Ander- Federer briefly needed After Nadal broke him No. 10 Richard Gasquet.
son of South Africa. treatment at the start of again for 5-2 and clinched The Frenchman advanced
“Very tough match, he the second set because of victory with a crisp fore- when Kei Nishikori of Japan
hand winner, the relief retired while trailing 7-6 (3),
was evident as he tilted 4-1.q