John Isner produced a blistering Miami Open semifinal display against crowd favourite Juan Martin Del Potro to win 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) and snap the former US Open champion’s 15-match winning streak.
It was a phenomenal effort from the American who blasted down 13 aces and took just one hour and 23 minutes to floor Argentina’s Del Potro and book his place in Sunday’s final.
Isner will meet world number five Alexander Zverev in the final after the German rolled over Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in the other semifinal.
“I have played a lot of big matches and not been able to get such a good start but I am playing some of the best tennis I have played in such a long time,” Isner said.
Isner, who won an impressive 83 percent of points on his second serve, was aiming to reach his fifth ATP Masters final and, finally, emerge victorious from one after four defeats.
Fourth-seeded Zverev needed 88 minutes to oust Carreno Busta and punch his ticket to the final.
The 20-year-old Zverev will be seeking his seventh career ATP title and first of the season when he faces Isner.
Zverev blasted 10 aces and won 88 percent of his first serve points in his first career meeting with the 26-year-old Carreno Busta.
“Every day I want to serve big,” said Zverev, who improved to 13-4 on the season. “I was very fortunate to win the first set and then I found my game in the second set.”
