Isner and Querrey Ousted in Delray Beach

February 18, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
John_Isner
Photo credit: USTA

Top-ranked American John Isner was bounced from the first round of the Delray Beach Open, falling to Australian Marinko Matosevic who fought off 16 aces for a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“I felt like I was the better player out there,” said Matosevic, who had lost to Isner in their last three meetings. “My second serve was different in our three previous matches and I felt like he was able to take advantage of it.”

Matosevic used an effective second-serve, winning 68 percent of the points on his second chance. He also saved all three break point chances he faced as Isner’s return game was unable to do anything.

“I just didn’t play well, didn’t do anything well,” said Isner. “I’m disappointed, but I’m just not good enough to not play well against this group of guys. It’s all between the ears right now. It’s not for a lack of effort.”

Matosevic moves on and will meet Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka who took down the Netherlands’ Igor Sijsling 7-5, 6-1.

Matosevic’s countryman, Thanasi Kokkinakis, rolled past Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 6-3 to advance, while Russian Andrey Rublev beat Isreal’s Dudi Sela 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Nishioka, Kokkinakis and Rublev all made history on Tuesday as they became the first trio of teenagers to advance to the second-round in the history of the Delray Beach Open.

Americans Steve Johnson, Donald Young and Tim Smyczek all advanced into the second-round. Young beat Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 7-5, 7-5, Smyczek knocked off fellow American Stefan Kozlov 7-5, 6-2 and Johnson led 6-3, 4-1 over Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin before Kukushkin was forced to retire.

Sixth-seeded Sam Querrey captured the first set against Colombia’s Alejandro Gonzalez but tweaked his back during an early point in the second set and had to retire.

“It was just one sudden movement and I jerked my back,” said Querrey. “I’ve had this before and it’s gotten better in a week. I’m just bummed because I played so well last week.”

Querrey looked excellent in Memphis last week, reaching the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Kei Nishikori in an incredibly tight contest.

He says he will have an MRI before he decides if he can play in the Davis Cup against Great Britain in early March.

Top-seeded Kevin Anderson rolled past Australian John Patrick-Smith 6-3, 6-3, and will take on Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei in the second-round.

Click here for all the results from the Delray Beach Open.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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