Top seeded American John Isner was sent crashing out of the ATP and WTA Memphis Open after losing to Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in a quarter-final match Friday. Isner, who hammered 48 aces in his first two matches in Memphis, fired 11 aces against Melzer in the 81 minute match at the $1.1 million indoor hardcourt tournament at The Racquet Club of Memphis. Besides Melzer, hard-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, Czech Radek Stepanek and Benjamin Becker of Germany also reached the semis on Friday.
In the tie break, Melzer had a double fault to hand Isner a set point, but the Austrian battled back to win the final three points of the set. Isner, who is ranked 13th in the world, also had two double faults and won just 67 percent of his first-serve points. Melzer won 80 percent of his first-serve points, had seven aces and saved both of his break point chances. Third seeded Stepanek also cruised into the semis surviving a first-set tie break then dominating the second set to beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (7/5), 6-0. Stepanek will face Melzer in the semis.
