John Isner and Gilles Muller bring big serves and plenty of confidence with them into an intriguing semifinal contest in Atlanta on Saturday. Jack Sock and Ryan Harrison are also aiming for a place in the title match.
(3) Gilles Muller vs. (2) John Isner
Isner and Muller will be facing each other for the sixth time in their careers and for the third time in Atlanta when they clash in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon. The head-to-head series stands at 3-2 in favor of Isner, who–not surprisingly–has taken each of their previous encounters at this event. Count Muller among the many who have tried and failed to take down the 6’10” American in Atlanta, although he snagged sets on both occasions. The Luxembourgian lost 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(7) in 2010 and 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-1 in the 2011 semifinals. Another three-setter between the two big-serving veterans came last summer on the grass courts of Queen’s Club, where Muller prevailed 3-6, 7-6(16), 7-6(7) while saving an incredible 10 match points.
Isner endured another final set when he lost to Dudi Sela in the Wimbledon second round, but he has been surprisingly drama free of late. The world No. 20 lifted the trophy last week in Newport without losing a set or facing a break point and he has not yet been extended to a tiebreaker through two rounds in Atlanta. Isner improved to 25-4 lifetime at this tournament with routine defeats of Vasek Pospisil (6-3, 6-4) and Lukas Lacko (7-5, 6-4). Muller, who is coming off a run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals that featured an upset of Rafael Nadal, has advanced with wins over Quentin Halys (6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3) and Tommy Paul (6-1, 6-3). The 22nd-ranked Luxembourgian is 13-4 lifetime in Atlanta with four consecutive semifinal appearances–including a runner-up finish to Andy Roddick in 2012. That is good, but it’s not at Isner’s level. And Muller has been good this week, but–again–not at Isner’s level.
Pick: Isner in 2
(4) Ryan Harrison vs. (5) Kyle Edmund
Harrison has also played some of his best tennis in Atlanta, and it is no surprise that he is finding success again at this tournament in 2017. Included in the 42nd-ranked American’s 13 ATP-level match victories this year is his first career title in Memphis. Harrison, who also won the doubles title at the French Open with Michael Venus, trailed John Millman by a set and a break on Thursday before storming back to prevail 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 7-5 and he crushed wild card Christopher Eubanks 6-1, 6-2 in the quarters.
Up next for the No. 4 seed on Saturday is a first-ever showdown against Edmund, who prevented the semifinal lineup from featuring the top four seeds when he ousted No. 1 Jack Sock 6-4, 6-1 on Friday night. The 45th-ranked Brit, who previously beat Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets and Peter Gojowyczk in three, is still just 17-19 for his 2017 campaign. Edmund produced stellar tennis in a somewhat bizarre match against Sock, but both players took medical timeouts (Edmund for an arm issue). That could turn out to be a factor against an opponent who is sure to put far more balls in play than Sock did.
Pick: Harrison in 3
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