Isner Hits 24 Aces To Set Up Youzhny Clash; Verdasco Races To Win

© Getty ImagesJohn Isner lost his only match against Mikhail Youzhny at Montreal in August 2009.

American John Isner hit 24 aces and 70 winners past Marco Chiudinelli at the US Open on Friday to set up a third round clash against No. 12 seed Mikhail Youzhny.

Isner, the No. 18 seed, recovered from a second-set lapse to beat Chiudinelli 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 in just under three hours on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Isner also beat the No. 63-ranked Swiss at Roland Garros over four sets in May.

Isner, who sustained an ankle injury two weeks ago in Cincinnati and did not resume practising until two days before the Open began, said that he did not feel fully match fit.

“For more than a week I couldn't do any physical activity, so I felt like I lost some of my shape… My legs weren't there. That's from lack of training recently.  So I was kind of dealt a bad hand coming into this tournament. But I conserved energy well... My serve and forehand pretty much bailed me out.”

DEUCE Magazine: Isner - Making Up For Lost Time

Isner's doubles partner Sam Querrey had no problems getting by Spaniard Marcel Granollers, taking one hour and 40 minutes to post a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory. The 20th-seeded Querrey converted on five of 12 break points and dropped serve once.

Querrey joins Isner, Mardy Fish and James Blake in the third round, and said about being the second highest-ranked American left in the draw (behind Isner) following World No. 9 Andy Roddick's loss: “I'm not feeling any pressure or anything. I think the four of us left are all doing our best.  To have four guys in the Round of 32, it's pretty good. Hopefully we can have four in the Round of 16. I think we've got a great shot to do that.”

Russian Youzhny, the 2006 semi-finalist, hit nine aces past Dudi Sela of Israel for a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win in two hours and 36 minutes.

ATP World Tour Uncovered - Youzhny

Elswhere, eighth seed Fernando Verdasco swept past French qualifier Adrian Mannarino for a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, win in one hour and 52 minutes. 

The Spaniard, who advanced to the quarter-finals (l. to Djokovic) last year, hit seven aces and converted six of 16 break point opportunities. The 26 year old is now one victory away from 40 match wins this year (39-16 record), and next confronts former World No. 3 David Nalbandian after the Argentine advanced with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 win over Frenchman Florent Serra.

Tenth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, the 2007 semi-finalist (l. to Djokovic), converted four of 10 break point opportunities to beat Benjamin Becker of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes.

Players were sent back to the locker room for 25 minutes mid-afternoon due to rain caused by one of the outer bands of Hurricane Earl.

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