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2/13/09 5:37 AM | Ricky Dimon
Americans Mardy Fish and James Blake reach the San Jose quarterfinals on Thursday. They are joined in the final eight by Juan Martin Del Potro, who crushed Kei Nishikori.
Mardy Fish d. John Isner 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5
This all-American second-round clash between occasional doubles partners was one game away from ending the same way a lot of matches end: in a third-set tiebreaker. Instead, Fish's third break of the match finished things off 7-5 in the final set after two hours and 18 minutes of play. After the first set it looked like Fish would have a much easier time advancing to the SAP Open quarterfinals. The No. 5 seed got the best of his opponent's serve on two occasions, and that was more than enough to dominated the opening frame of play. Fish, who did not a face a break point in set one, also took care of all six of his service games in the second, but so did Isner. The 6'9'' Isner is tough to breat in tiebreakers and he prevailed in this one seven points to four to force a decisive third. It looked like the final set was heading to another 'breaker, but Fish struck in the twelfth game of the set for his third break, booking a spot in the quarterfinals, where he will take on No. 2 seed Juan Martin Del Potro. Fish finished with 13 aces and four double-faults, while Isner struck 15 aces to just two doubles. Next up for the No. 24 player in the world is second-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro.
James Blake d. Florent Serra 6-4, 6-3
Although heavily favored, Blake has to feel good about his win over Serra because he had lost to the Frenchman on two of three previous occasions, including most recently at the 2007 Masters Series Miami. On Thursday in San Jose, Blake evened the head-to-head score with Serra by easing through in one hour and six minutes. It was not a total cakewalk, however; especially not in the first set. Little separated the two competitors in the opening frame of play, but Blake capitalized on his one break chance while saving all three of the break points he faced. That was enough to give him the set 6-4. The No. 3 seed sustained his momentum by breaking early in the second for 3-1. From there Blake never looked back, and he did not run into any kind of trouble on his own serve until serving for the match at 5-3. He went up 30-0 but eventually had to fend off two break points, the second of which he did with an ace. Two points later, Blake secured safe passage into the quarterfinals, where he will meet fellow American Sam Querrey. The 6'6'' Querrey advanced with a routine straight-set win over Denis Gremelmayr.
Juan Martin Del Potro d. Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-2
Nishikori came out flat and played a dreadful opening service game. Del Potro jumped all over his opponent's second serves and seized a break right away for 1-0. That would have been enough to take the first set, but the No. 2 seed added another break later on before serving it out at 5-2. Del Potro, eased through his own service games until he served for the set, but he saved two break points to close out the opening frame of play in 37 minutes. Nishikori again got broken at the start of the second, without winning a single point in his first service game. The 19-year-old Japanese star briefly righted the ship by breaking back for 2-2, but it was all downhill for him after that. Nishikori was hopeless on his second-serve points and the Argentine used two more breaks to dominated set two by the same scoreline as the first. Del Potro capped off a four-game streak to end the match with a difficult hold at 5-2 in which he saved three break points. The No. 7 player in the world needed one hour and 14 minutes to set up a quarterfinal showdown with Fish.
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On a good day, Fish can come up with brilliant tennis. He just played a big guy, so he'll be ready for JDP. I think JDP will come thru in 3, but wish Mardy the best.
Rafterfan , 2/13/09 12:33 PM