The match concluded at 2:25am, ranking it the second latest finish at the US Open. The night on Arthur Ashe Stadium had begun with a lengthy three-set Maria Sharapova victory interrupted by an hour-plus rain delay.
Isner, up two-sets-to-one going into the fourth set, appeared to have the clear advantage. In the opening game, he had two break-point chances but failed to capitalize. Serving at 3-4, the American played a sloppy game, handing Kohlschreiber the break with a double fault. The German then calmly served out the set at love, taking the match to a fifth and deciding set – which, as it turns out, was right where Kohlschreiber wanted to be.
After a visit to the locker room to change his entire kit, Isner quickly unraveled in the opening stages of the final set. Two unsuccessful line challenges and a foot fault that erased an ace led to another service break by the German. Kohlschreiber padded his outstanding career five-set record, now 14-5 (in contrast, Isner is just 4-9).
Isner, a quarterfinalist at the 2011 US Open, played a disappointing and desultory match—especially considering that he entered this undefeated in three matches against the German and on a seven-match win streak (having retained his title at Winston-Salem last week). But it wasn’t only Isner’s undoing; Kohlschreiber played a smart tactical match throughout and was a perfect three for three on break-point chances.
Playing in his 10th US Open, Kohlschreiber has reached the round of 16 for the first time.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
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