ATP Delray Beach: Mackenzie McDonald topples Juan Martin del Potro. Isner..
The 23-year-old Mackenzie McDonald will compete in the first ATP semi-final after a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 triumph over the world no. 4 Juan Martin del Potro in two hours and 18 minutes. Del Potro played his first tournament since October here in Delray Beach but his knee is still causing troubles, announcing he will skip the next week's ATP 500 Acapulco event where he was the defending champion. Nonetheless, he gave his best against Mackenzie in a very tight match, with just one break for each player and three points more overall on Mackenzie's tally.
The American played better on the second serve and that was one of the crucial elements that kept him in contention against the better-ranked opponent, surviving two break points in the deciding set to reach the tie break and win it 7-5 for the place in the semis. The opening set saw nine commanding holds and a backhand return winner from Mackenzie in game nine that secured a break at love for him, closing the opener with three winners in the following game against the rival who struggled to move around the court in the way he would have wanted.
The Argentinian saved two break points earlier in the second set and that gave him an injection of boost, serving well until the end of the match and keeping the pressure on McDonald all the time. The American got broken in game six after a poor drop shot that barely reached the net and Delpo secured the set with an ace in game nine to stay in contention and force a decider. There, McDonald saved a break point in game three and another one at 3-3 after a sloppy forehand from Juan Martin, with both serving well in the remaining games to set up a tie break where the American opened a 6-3 lead with a service winner.
Del Potro saved two match points on serve but Mackenzie got the job done with a smash winner at 6-5, celebrating the biggest win of his career and staying on the title course. After a tough loss to Reilly Opelka in the semi-final of New York last week, John Isner will play for the place in the final in Delray Beach as well after a 7-6, 6-4 win over Adrian Mannarino in an hour and 33 minutes. Serving at 77%, John fired 24 aces and saved all three break points he faced, creating three chances on the return and converting one to grab the second set and seal the deal without having to play another tie break, having a little bit too many of those so far in 2019.
Mannarino had a tremendous chance to deliver the opener, creating those break points at 3-3 before Isner repelled them all with winners, reaching the tie break that he won 7-2 with three mini-breaks and a service winner at 6-2. The pressure was on the Frenchman in set number two, facing a break point in each of the opening three service games and hitting a double fault to give the serve away in game five, allowing John to bring the match home with three easy holds. Serving at 5-4, the American blasted four service winners to cement the triumph and set Daniel Evans clash on Saturday night. The Briton has advanced into his first ATP semi-final since Sydney last year, ousting the 6th seed Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 27 minutes, losing serve once and breaking the Italian three times to continue his great run here in Delray Beach.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2NlUje2
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