Isner, Nishikori reach last eight at Newport
Date published :
11 Jul 2012 - 23:16:52
US top seed John Isner and second seed Kei Nishikori of Japan advanced to the quarter-finals of the ATP Hall of Fame Championships on Wednesday.
Isner blasted 13 aces in ousting Frenchman Nicholas Mahut 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) at the $398,250 grass-court event in a rematch of the longest match in tennis history.
In 2010 at Wimbledon, Isner defeated Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/3), 70-68 after just over 11 hours of play over three days.
But it took only 78 minutes for Isner to book a quarter-final date against South African qualifier Izak Van der Merwe, who eliminated American Jack Sock 6-4, 6-4.
Nishikori rallied to defeat Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-2 and reach a quarter-final matchup with American Rajeev Ram, who downed compatriot Michael Russell 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
