Share

Isner, Monfils in cruise control

Washington - US top seed John Isner and French second seed Gael Monfils breezed into the ATP and WTA Washington Open quarter-finals on Thursday with impressive serving performances in straight-set triumphs.

Isner blasted 15 aces in downing Cypriot 15th seed Marcos Baghdatis 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 while Monfils fired 12 aces and won 22 of 23 first-serve points in defeating Croatian teen 16th seed Borna Coric 6-2, 6-3. Neither winner faced a break point.

"When you win most of your points with the serve, you can focus on your shots and you feel less pressure," Monfils said. "I've been serving much better this year. I've changed some motions with my legs.

"I serve a lot and it's working so I enjoy it. I trust my serve and the court is fast so I can switch from my defense to attack."

Monfils, the 2011 Washington runner-up, will next meet US eighth seed Sam Querrey, who ousted Ukraine 11th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

Three-time Washington runner-up Isner next faces US fifth seed Steve Johnson, who ousted American qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-4. Johnson won his first ATP crown last month at Nottingham.

"He turned a corner and he has carried that confidence over," Isner said of Johnson. "He's playing very well. This is an extremely tough match."

No American has won the Washington title since Andy Roddick in 2007.

"Still the number one is John," Monfils said. "I will get to the final if I can. I've got to focus on my game."

Ball-bashing Ivo Karlovic, the 37-year-old Croatian who won last week at Newport to become the ATP's oldest singles champion since 1979, smashed 21 aces in dumping Australian third seed Bernard Tomic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

US sixth seed Jack Sock downed Britain's Daniel Evans 6-1, 7-5, to book a last-eight date with Karlovic, the only men's quarter-finalist not among the top eight seeds.

"It's a good tournament for big servers," Isner said. "Myself, Karlovic is still alive, Jack and Stevie. A big serve and a forehand."

Sock hit only 44 percent of his first serves but won 23 of 25 first-serve points.

"I was able to 1-2 punch, serve and forehand and get a few points that way," Sock said.

French fourth seed Benoit Paire outlasted Luxembourg's 14th-seeded Gilles Muller 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) and will play Germany's Alexander Zverev for a semi-final spot.

Zverev, 19, matched his Washington run last year by beating Tunisia's Malek Jaziri 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

OZAKI REACHES LAST EIGHT

Risa Ozaki, a 22-year-old from Japan who lost five of her prior six WTA matches before this week, outlasted Britain's Naomi Broady 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, to reach her first tour quarter-final, where she will face Kazak sixth seed Yulia Putintseva.

Ozaki ousted defending champion and second seed Sloane Stephens in her opening match.

American Lauren Davis upset Puerto Rican third seed Monica Puig 6-4, 6-2 to reach a quarter-final against Italy's Camila Giorgi, who advanced by walkover when Austrian Tamira Paszek withdrew with an upper respiratory infection.

French fourth seed Kristina Mladenovic beat Germany's Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-3, and next plays Belgian seventh seed Yanina Wickmayer.

Australian top seed Samantha Stosur meets US wildcard Jessica Pegula in Friday's other women's quarter-final.

Results on Thursday from the fourth day of the ATP and WTA Washington Open (x denotes seed):

Men

Third round

Ivo Karlovic (CRO x13) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS x3) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3

Steve Johnson (USA x5) bt Ryan Harrison (USA) 6-4, 6-4

John Isner (USA x1) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP x15) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2

Jack Sock (USA x6) bt Daniel Evans (GBR) 6-1, 7-5

Gael Monfils (FRA x2) bt Borna Coric (CRO x16) 6-2, 6-3

Alexander Zverev (GER x7) bt Malek Jaziri (TUN) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2

Sam Querrey (USA x8) bt Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR x11) 7-6 (7/5), 6-3

Benoit Paire (FRA x4) bt Gilles Muller (LUX x14) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4)

Women

Second round

Lauren Davis (USA) bt Monica Puig (PUR x3) 6-4, 6-2

Kristina Mladenovic (FRA x4) bt Sabine Lisicki (GER) 6-3, 6-3

Camila Giorgi (ITA) bt Tamira Paszek (AUT), walkover, upper resperatory infection

Risa Ozaki (JPN) bt Naomi Broady (GBR) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE