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5/3/11 6:41 PM | Ricky Dimon
Sergiy Stakhovsky outlasts John Isner in a third-set tiebreaker on Tuesday in Madrid. Stakhovsky awaits either David Ferrer or Adrian Mannarino.
Both Sergiy Stakhovsky and John Isner survived third-set tiebreakers in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open. They played another one on Tuesday, but this time only one of them could win.
Stakhovsky emerged victorious, outlasting Isner 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(3) in two hours and 16 minutes to reach the third round. The world No. 38 struck five aces and double-faulted just once to set up a meeting with either David Ferrer or Adrian Mannarino.
A tight first set seemed destined for a tiebreaker as both players held easily en route to 5-5. That's when it started getting interesting, though, and Stakhovsky fell behind 15-40. When Isner squandered both break chances and watched his opponent hold for 6-5, he could not recover. The 6'9'' American dropped serve out of nowhere without much of a fight to throw away the set.
If the opening frame of play came to an abrupt end, the second got off to an equally surprising start. Despite having all the momentum, Stakhovsky was broken immediately to fall into an 0-1 hole. The Ukrainian never came close to getting back on serve, as Isner surrendered a mere seven points in five service games. Isner lost the first point while serving for the set at 5-4, but he won four in a row to force a third in style.
Both men had chances to end it prior to a decisive tiebreaker, but they could not convert. Isner saw his opportunity early, but he missed one break chance and soon found himself down match point at 4-5. He saved it, however, and two holds later the match went to a final-set 'breaker.
Isner, who edged countryman Mardy Fish on Monday, got off to a strong start and seized a quick mini-break for 1-0. From there, though, it was all Stakhovsky. The 25-year-old, who took out Albert Montanes in round one, raced to a 6-3 advantage and capitalized on his first match point when Isner double-faulted.
Stakhovsky served at 68 percent and won 76 percent of his first-serve points. Isner wrapped up his effort with seven aces and two doubles while putting in 67 percent of his first deliveries.
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