Tennis Atlantic

Christian Harrison put up a clutch and tenacious fight against Big John Isner but fell short 6-7, 6-4, 5-7, as he just couldn’t crack the code of Isner’s serve.  The young American moved, served, and struck the ball well all the way through the first set. Isner wasn’t playing spectacularly  but still dominated with his serve and the occasional bludgeoned forehand. They played a long tiebreak, with both guys saving clutch set points, especially Harrison, but eventually the Isner serve/forehand combo won out again and he took it.Rather than fading, Harrison the younger kept his head up and dug in, continuing to hold serve until a massive break to take the 2nd set. In the 3rd they continued dueling, but Isner finally broke through and then aced the match out.

Isner was not particularly effective when not volleying, and Harrison won most of the rallies. In fact, Harry won more total points, but it wasn’t enough. For a 19-year-old, Harrison played smart tennis like a veteran, but also showed fresh legs and came up with some impeccable shots, including a broken string drop/passing shot combo winner. Isner’s serve and power when he needed it finally got it done in the end.

In other action, Kevin Anderson had a tough time against Matt Ebden at the start, and lost the opening set via tiebreak. Things got better as the match went on for the 2 seed, as he took control, serving well throughout and winning 6-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Santiago Giraldo won 5-7, 6-3, 3-0 (retired) over Michael Russell. Russell broke Santi as his countryman Alejandro Falla watched. After long baseline rallies, Giraldo recovered in the 2nd set. After Russell left the court grabbing his side at the end of the set, he came back and retired 3 games later to hand the Colombian a quarterfinals spot.

Americans were 2-0 against European players today in 2nd round action. Ryan Harrison came back from a slow start (double break down in the first) to beat a wilted and disinterested Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-3. After Harrison got over his early blues, he took control and Sijsling totally lost control. Harrison went up a break in the 2nd but Sijsling got that one back after a poor Harrison service game. Then the Dutchman finally wilted in the heat to the point he was serving, barely moving, and hitting weak drop shots or reach returns in a half-effort. He also wasn’t chasing down Harrison’s lobs.

James Blake was much better than Evgeny Donskoy today, as his aggressive brand of tennis paid off 6-3, 6-2.  The Russian was trying out there, but he just didn’t have it today, as Blake was returning sharply and whipping his backhands en route to a rather routine victory for the veteran American.

In the other 2nd round match, Denis Istomin kept Rendy Lu from serving out the first set, and eventually won in straights 7-5, 6-2.

In doubles quarterfinal action, Guccione/Hewitt dominated Ram/Skupski 6-1 6-2, Fleming/Marray beat Blake/Sock 6-3, 6-2 and Roger-Vasselin/Sijsling beat King/Spir 7-5, 6-3.

Top seeds Dodig/Melo were upset by Erlich/Ram 7-5, 4-6, 10-8, and Berankis/Giraldo got a walkover against Russell/Kudla because of Russell’s injury.  The Dodig/Melo vs. Erlich/Ram match was highly entertaining and full of lobs, fast reflexes, and ripped serve returns.