University of Georgia Athletics
Isner Advances To Semifinals At National Indoor Championships
November 04, 2005 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 4, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio --- University of Georgia men's tennis player John Isner has advanced to the semifinals of the National Indoor Championships in Columbus, Ohio with two wins Friday. Isner, the tournament's No. 2 seed, won both matches in straight sets. The Georgia players who are not participating in the National Indoors remained in Athens to host the Bulldog Scramble and found success as well.
"John's matches were both very close, hard-fought matches," said Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz. "John has had an ability to win these close matches all year and he should be in for another great battle tomorrow."
In the second round of the tournament Isner downed former Bulldog Raian Luchici, who now plays for North Carolina, by a score of 6-4, 7-6 (3).
"Ryan did a great job but John's serve was the difference in the end," said Diaz.
In the quarterfinal matchup, Isner faced Steven Bass, a familiar opponent, and the Midwest Regional champion.
"Steve and John grew up playing against each other," said Diaz. "They have had some great battles in the past and they had another one today."
Down 5-4, Isner battled back by breaking Bass' serve and tying it up at 5-5. He then went on to win the next two games to take the first set, 7-5. The second set went without a break of serve until the tiebreaker. Isner was leading 6-3 in the race to seven, but Bass fought back, holding serve twice to cut Isner's advantage to 6-5. Isner then served for the match, but Bass returned his serve for a winner to tie it at 6-6. Isner proved too strong in the end though, as he went on to break Bass' next two serves and win the contest on a terrific backhand passing shot.
"John played another great match in the quarterfinals," said Diaz. "Steven Bass has been having a great year. John really stepped up to close out a tough one."
Isner will take on fourth-seeded Ben Kohlloeffel of UCLA in Saturday's semifinal match.
In doubles play, seniors Strahinja Bobusic and Colin Purcell fell in their quarterfinal match to Luchichi and Brad Pomeroy of North Carolina, 8-4.
"Our doubles team did not play very well today," said Diaz. "And I fell bad for those guys because they have had a terrific fall. Today they just didn't have their best stuff. UNC was just too tough today."
In the first day of round-robin action at the Bulldog Scramble, Ricardo Gonzalez defeated Carey Rubin of Kentucky, 6-2, 6-2. Freshman Josh Varela then took down Thomas Stoddard of South Carolina, 6-0, 6-1. Junior Matic Omerzel tried to battle through an injury but fell to Nate Emge of Kentucky,6-0, 6-1, while sophomore Brad Benedict took Joe Veeder of South Carolina to three sets before falling, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
In doubles action, Gonzalez and Varela teamed up to defeat Kenny Hodge and Rubin of Kentucky, 8-2, while the Bulldog pair of Omerzel and Benedict took down Kazuya Otani and Veeder of South Carolina.
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