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  • Legg Mason quarterfinal: Isner Hopes to halt Del Potro streak

    8/15/08 4:03 PM | Ricky Dimon
    - Juan Martin Del Potro is the hottest player in tennis at the moment. On Friday John Isner will try to steal a semifinal spot away from him at the Legg Mason Classic.

    Something's got to give when John Isner and Juan Martin Del Potro square off in the Legg Mason quarterfinals on Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C. This is Isner's favorite tournament, having reached the final last year and already the quarterfinals this time around, while Del Potro has won three straight tournaments and 16 consecutive matches.

    Despite their respective streaks, both men ran into some trouble en route to the quarterfinals. Isner, who won five straight matches in third-set tiebreakers last year in Washington, went the distance again in his first-round match against Marcel Granollers. He had to break the Spaniard at 5-6 in the third to force the 'breaker, which he dominated seven points to one. The 6'9'' American followed that up with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over up-and-coming compatriot Donald Young. Outside of the Legg Mason and the U.S. Open (Isner reached the third round last year), it has mostly been a struggle for the big man, but none of that matters now. He should be feeling sky high heading into this showdown.

    No player can be feeling better than Del Potro. The 6'6'' Argentine won two clay-court tournaments immediately following Wimbledon and then came over for the U.S. Open Series and promptly upset Andy Roddick in the Los Angeles final last week. Still just 19 years old, Del Potro is up to a career-high 19th in the world. After the No. 2 seed crushed Jesse Levine in round one here, Dudi Sela provided him with a surprising test. The diminutive Israeli go bageled 6-0 in the first but bounced back in stunning fashion to force a third set.

    Three sets can only be expected for Isner and Del Potro on Friday. Del Potro has a decided advantage in overall play and talent, but Isner's serve, of course, usually keeps him competitive in almost any match. It will have to be in rare form for this one, because Isner cannot afford to get into a lot of baseline rallies with his opponent. Del Potro is the clear favorite, but if the D.C. crowd comes out early to support the American, then I'm picking the upset in three thrilling sets.

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