Isner tops Sweeting to reach semis in Houston
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}John Isner posted a quarterfinal victory against defending champion Ryan Sweeting on Friday at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship.
The No. 2 seed Isner won two tiebreakers to take a 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-4) win over Sweeting in an All-American confrontation at River Oaks Country Club.
Isner fired 11 aces and saved all six break points he faced. It was Isner's second straight win over Sweeting this year.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Isner will face third-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the semifinals after he led, 6-4, 2-2, before Argentine Carlos Berlocq retired with a lower leg injury.
Michael Russell, a 33-year-old Houston resident who defeated No. 1 seed Mardy Fish on Thursday, reached the semifinals with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 win over 19- year-old fellow countryman Ryan Harrison.
Russell will tangle with fourth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco, who reached his third semifinal of the season by defeating fifth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The winner of this $522,000 tournament will collect $71,900.