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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, July 29, 2021

 
Isner

John Isner saved a set point out-dueling buddy Jack Sock 7-6(6), 6-4 to advance to his 10th Atlanta quarterfinal.

Photo credit: Getty

John Isner credits his college career as the training ground for his pro success.

The former Georgia Bulldog continues to show fierce competitive bite on home turf.

Five-time Atlanta champion Isner saved a set point in the tiebreaker out-dueling buddy Jack Sock 7-6(6), 6-4 to reach the Truist Atlanta Open quarterfinals for the 10th time.

Isner improved to 33-5 lifetime in Atlanta and shared some family news afterward.




Though he lives with his family in Dallas these days, the four-time all-American regards Atlanta as his home tournament. Isner withstood a stiff test from Sock setting up a quarterfinal vs. Australian qualifier Christopher O'Connell.

The 27-year-old O'Connell played with counter-punching precision upsetting second-seeded Jannik Sinner 7-6(7), 6-4 to reach his first ATP quarterfinal. Quick off the mark, O'Connell saved three set points in the tiebreaker, including unleashing some sharp running passes to propel the world No. 132 to the biggest win of his career.

Squaring off for the third time in Atlanta, sometime doubles partners Isner and Sock each guarded service games with control. Isner issued an ace to save the lone break point of the first set, Sock played a sloppy game to surrender serve in the ninth game of the second set.

Sock trampolined topspin forehands to unsettling effect earning a break point in the fifth game. Isner bombed an ace wide to save the lone break point of the opening set holding for 3-2.

The former doubles partners were untroubled on serve for the rest of the set. Sock smacked his eighth ace down the middle force the tiebreaker.



Twice Sock seized a mini break lead—at 4-2 and 5-3—but his ferocious forehand failed him both times including netting a routine rally forehand to give back the second mini break at 5-all. Sock scorched an ace for set point. Isner answered with a tremendous kick serve out wide to erase it. On his first set point, Isner picked a fine stretch forehand volley winner to close the set with some timely aggression.

A frustrated Sock belted a ball out of the stadium in disgust at relinquishing the mini break twice in the breaker. Sock took a bathroom break to change clothes and cool down.

After about a six-minute break, Sock returned refreshed, stringing together successive strong holds.

Level at 4-all, Sock stung his 15th ace to save the first break point he faced all night. On a second break point, Sock targeted the big man's backhand wing, but Isner drove a backhand return right down the middle drawing a netted forehand to break for 5-4.

On his second set point, Isner serve-and-volleyed, thumped a smash down the middle then held his breath as Sock's flying pass landed beyond the baseline. Sock out-aced Isner, 15 to 13, and earned two break points, but Isner was better at the critical stages raising his record against his friend to 6-3, including winning all three of their Atlanta encounters.

 

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