Isner into Newport semis
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Top seed and defending champion John Isner posted a quarterfinal victory Friday at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.
The 6-foot-9 American smacked 12 aces in getting past South African qualifier Izak Van der Merwe 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) on the grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Isner will meet the Ryan Harrison-Benjamin Becker winner in a semifinal here on Saturday, the same day Tennis Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2012, including former players Jennifer Capriati, Gustavo Kuerten and Manuel Orantes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The towering Isner beat diminutive Belgian Olivier Rochus in last year's Newport finale.
Saturday's other semi will pit Aussie Lleyton Hewitt against American Rajeev Ram, who was a surprise champion here in 2009. The long-time ATP star Hewitt is a former world No. 1 and two-time major titlist.