Isner Crashes the 30+ Party
The two tallest players on tour battled it out today at the Hall of Fame Championships. Isner, at 81 inches and 28 years, prevailed over Ivo Karlovic, at 82 inches and 34 years, by a count of 7-6(3), 7-6(3).
Bur this numbers game isn’t about inches.
Isner earns the right to likely face 32-year-old Lleyton Hewitt in the semis tomorrow. That is, unless Hewitt is upset by 34-year-old Jan Hernych. The winner of that half of the draw is bound to face a wily veteran in the final, as 31-year-old Nicolas Mahut and 35-year-old Michael Russell await.
For the third time this season, we are guaranteed at least three players over 30 in the semis of an ATP event after Halle and Den Bosch. According to the ATP, there has never been four 30-somethings in the semis since complete ATP records were kept.
Isner kept Newport out of the history books in that regard and spoiled a perfectly good party at the Pro Tennis Nursing Home.
Tennis Atlantic 