Tennis: Lucky break propels Isner into semifinals

Veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement is just one win away from the finals. Photo / Getty Images

It might just be John Isner's week at Auckland's men's open.

Having battled for more than two hours to earn a match point against top seed Tommy Robredo yesterday, Isner enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune when Robredo's strings snapped on his serve.

Isner returned the serve and Robredo put a fairly routine forehand out of court. "It was an easy forehand which normally I cannot miss," Robredo lamented.

In a match of wildly fluctuating fortunes, who knows what would have happened had Robredo fended off the match point.

That's not a question Isner will have lost much sleep over before today's semifinal against Albert Montanes. Besides, with Robredo having needed a fluky net cord to survive a break point in his previous service game, the luck was evenly shared.

The giant American, who has rapidly become a crowd favourite at the Heineken Open, was good value for the upset win after battling back from a break down in the decisive third set.

The gruelling match was par for the course for Isner, who went the full distance in three of his five 2009 matches.

"I guess I wouldn't have it any other way at this tournament, it seems like I do that every single match I play."

Frenchman Arnaud Clement is also enjoying his time in Auckland, having added sixth seed Jurgen Melzer to his list of victims to set up a semifinal against 2008 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany who last night thrashed Marc Gicquel (France) 6-3, 6-1.

Seemingly long since past his pomp when he made a late decision to come to Auckland for the first time, the 32-year-old former Australian Open finalist has been enjoying a renaissance this week, dispatching young compatriot Jeremy Chardy and second seed David Ferrer before taking care of Melzer.

"It is the first time I have played here and I am in the semifinals," Clement said. "The end of the tournament is close and it is only one more step to the final. I want to win, I am very hungry for the title."

Isner and Montanes have travelled opposite paths en route to the semifinals, Montanes progressing with a run of straight sets victories over two qualifiers and Kiwi wildcard Rubin Statham - none of whom were ranked inside the top 200.

"It's true - I was lucky to be placed in that quarter of the draw," Montanes said after defeating Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer.

"I don't care about who I play against, every match is difficult and you still have to take the opportunity."

Robredo seemed to be coasting to victory after breaking Isner in the opening game of the deciding set of the feature quarter-final but Isner broke back to level at 3-3.

In a seesawing finish, Isner blew four break points in the ninth game and then had to fend off two on his own serve to go up 5-4. Robredo then cracked, losing three straight points.

Isner beat Montanes in straight sets in the first round last year but he didn't think that made him odds-on to progress to just his second ATP final.

"He is ranked higher than me and seeded here and I'm not, so I don't really know if I am the favourite," Isner said.

"He has really kind of breezed through all of his matches so he is obviously more rested than I am.

"And he has got confidence knowing that he has won six straight sets, but for me I know that I have pulled it out in three really close matches."