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5/2/11 7:08 PM | Ricky Dimon
John Isner takes out Mardy Fish in a third-set tiebreaker on Monday in Madrid. Sergiy Stakhovsky also goes the distance in a thriller over Albert Montanes.
John Isner d. (11) Mardy Fish 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(3)
Isner and Fish know a thing or two about going deep into third sets. Fish won their first encounter 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5 two years ago in San Jose and survived again 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in last summer's Atlanta final. Their first-round battle at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday did not disappoint, but this time it was Isner who got revenge. The 6'9'' American did not break serve a single time throughout two hours and 54 minutes of play, but he won a pair of tiebreakers to advance.
Isner mostly dominated the opening set, but he missed all four of his break chances while holding his own serve with ease. After winning the tiebreaker, though, he dropped serve immediately in the second. Fish served it out from there to force a third, which progressed similarly to the first. Isner squandered two more break opportunities only to recover in the decisive 'breaker. He double-faulted on the first point but got mini-breaks back at 0-1 and 3-3. Isner took care of two service points for 6-3 and capitalized on his first match point with a running forehand pass.
Sergiy Stakhovsky d. Albert Montanes 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(5)
Montanes had plenty of chances, but he squander leads in both the first and third sets as Stakhovsky prevailed after two hours and 24 minutes of play. This one was tight right from the start, as neither man faced a single break point in the opening set. Montanes had a set point in the ensuing tiebreaker, but Stakhovsky recovered to take eight points to six.
The 26th-ranked Spaniard turned the tide in set two, beginning to get a read on his opponent's serve. Montanes donated his own serve once, but two breaks made up for it and he served out the proceedings at 5-3 to force a third. Another set that featured 12 straight holds required a tiebreaker, and Montanes raced to a 4-0 lead. Stakhovsky, though, stormed back and finally clinched victory on serve at 6-5. The 38th-ranked Ukrainian wrapped up his effort with seven aces and one double-fault.
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