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7/23/11 10:39 PM | Ricky Dimon
John Isner is back in the Atlanta title match after getting past Gilles Muller on Saturday. Isner awaits either defending champion Mardy Fish or unseeded Ryan Harrison.
There's nothing like playing in his college state for John Isner.
The former University of Georgia star booked a spot in his second consecutive Atlanta Tennis Championships final by defeating Gilles Muller 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-1 on Saturday afternoon. Isner blasted 28 aces without double-faulting and never dropped serve en route to an all-American final showdown against either Mardy Fish or Ryan Harrison.
Just like their 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(7) encounter that also went in Isner's favor last year in Atlanta, this one was tense right from the start. Muller fought off a break point in the first game of the match with an ace, then it was Isner's turn to save two in his opening service effort. The 6'9'' American survived a total of four deuce games in the first set, including when he thwarted a set point at 4-5 by forcing Muller into an error.
Having just barely managed to stay alive in the opener, Isner turned up the pressure at 5-5. Muller faced his second break point of the day at 30-40 and a costly double-fault gave his opponent the decisive break. Isner promptly served out the set with ease for an early advantage.
Whereas Muller missed chances in the first, Isner failed to capitalize on his opportunities to finish off the match in straights. The world No. 35 dropped a mere four points in six service games, but he could not put Muller away. Isner earned two break points--virtual match points--at 5-5, but a forehand error prevented him from taking the first and Muller erased the second with a forehand winner.
A tiebreaker eventually had to decide things, and the 82nd-ranked Luxembourgian raced ahead 3-0 before dominating it seven points to three.
A revitalized Isner came back out for the third. Atlanta's 2010 runner-up seized a break for 2-0 and from there it was all over for Muller. The underdog dropped a second straight service game as he saw Isner storm to a 5-0 advantage. Following a meaningless hold by Muller, Isner finished off the proceedings on serve without any trouble.
"I've been waiting for this (confident) feeling for five months now," said Isner, who is gaining momentum having also won the Newport title earlier this month. "I returned great in the third set. You want to play break points aggressively; especially in third sets and especially in big matches."
The No. 3 seed served at 72 percent and he won 77 percent of the points on both his first and second deliveries. Muller wrapped up his effort with a solid 16 aces and four double-faults, but he won just 52 percent of his second-serve points.
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John Isner 
Gilles Muller 
