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Isner sets up Murray showdown
May 28, 2016
PARIS, AP:
With a rare five-set victory, 15th-seeded John Isner made it to the French Open's fourth round, equalling his best showing at the Grand Slam tournament.
Isner, the last American man in the draw, used 34 aces to beat 79th-ranked Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia 7-6, (7), 4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Friday.
Isner began the day with a 5-14 career record in five-setters and trailed Gabashvili by two sets to one before coming back.
It's the second time in three years that Isner is into the round of 16. Next up for him is a match against number-two Andy Murray, a two-time major champion.
If Isner, who is based in Florida, can pull off that upset, he would get to the second Grand Slam quarter-final of his career in 32 appearances. The only other time he made it that far was at the 2011 US Open, losing at that stage to Murray.
Of the 10 U.S. men who were in the draw at Roland Garros, only Isner and number-23 Jack Sock remained entering Friday, which still gave the country a chance to have two representatives in the fourth round for the first time in 15 years. But Sock lost in five sets.
