Sports

Timely break sees Isner advance in Cincinnati

August 12, 2019
John Isner (USA) returns a shot against Dusan Lajovic (SRB) during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, on Sunday. — Reuters
John Isner (USA) returns a shot against Dusan Lajovic (SRB) during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, on Sunday. — Reuters

CINCINNATI, Ohio — John Isner blasted 27 aces in his first-round match against Serbian Dusan Lajovic on Sunday but it was a timely break of serve that saw the American advance 7-6(3) 1-6 7-5 at the Cincinnati Open.

Lajovic shook off the loss of a first set tiebreak to dominate the second frame, earning two breaks of Isner’s fearsome serve.

However, trailing 6-5 in the final set and serving to stay in the match, Lajovic's own serve failed him at the worst possible time as Isner, a finalist here in 2013, sealed the win to reach the second round.

Isner will next play either Spanish qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta or France’s Gilles Simon.

Also on Sunday, Australian Alex De Minaur rallied from a set down to beat Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-7(5) 6-1 6-2 and will next meet the winner of American Reilly Opelka and Borna Coric of Croatia.

"These wins are often the ones that count the most,” De Minaur, who did not drop a service game, told reporters. "To be able to come back from not playing my best tennis and turn it around, I’m really happy to get the win.” — Reuters


August 12, 2019
30 views
HIGHLIGHTS
Sports
21 hours ago

Jorge Jesus returns to Saudi Arabia as Al Nassr head coach on one-year deal

Sports
day ago

Jannik Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz to win his maiden Wimbledon title

Sports
day ago

Chelsea defeat PSG 3-0 to win first expanded Club World Cup