Former champion David Ferrer progressed to a semi-final meeting with Andy Murray, defeating a clearly hindered John Isner 6-3, 6-7, 6-2. Ferrer had looked in control, leading by a set and five-three, but Isner came back to win the second set on a tiebreak before rapidly failing in the third, as a number of health ailments took their toll.
Isner forced the first break points in the match, returning and moving well before Ferrer finally held after a game lasting more than seven minutes. Ferrer then broke in game three, passing Isner after the American had failed to put enough angle or depth into an approach shot.
Isner failed to make inroads in Ferrer’s next service game, but did at least hold to stay in within a single service break of the Spaniard. Isner had to stave off another break point in game seven, as he started to become more erratic with his ground strokes. Isner did hold with a big forehand, but Ferrer was getting enough looks at the serve to get close.
Isner did force deuce again on the Ferrer serve in game seven, but after Ferrer finally held the American capitulated again. Ferrer broke to ensure that he got the opportunity to serve first in the second set.
Ferrer continued to dominate in set two, and earned a break point when a limp Isner backhand found the net. Isner used the serve to typical effect to escape, but then signalled to the chair that he was in discomfort from an apparent shoulder injury.
Isner received treatment at the next change of ends, and both men held their next service games comfortably. Isner was forced to thirty in the next game, and was somewhat lucky to not face a break point, Ferrer missing a passing shot from a good position. Ferrer held comfortably again, with Isner in increasingly visible pain. Game eight saw Isner in trouble again, two standard ground stroke errors gave Ferrer love-thirty. Isner got back, but finally succumbed with another poor error.
Isner fought hard to regain the break, saving two match points on the Ferrer serve to reach deuce. A rattled Ferrer double-faulted to hand the American a break point. Isner broke. A big cross-court forehand opened up the court, and with Ferrer committed, Isner went behind him to return to an on serve scenario.
Both men held until the tiebreak, and a rejuvenated Isner secured the first mini break when Ferrer missed a volley. Isner fired a forehand wide to even the scores once again. Isner then hit a stunning return, finding the line to again take the lead. Ferrer found a superb return that landed at an advancing Isner’s feet. Isner held the second point to set up a set point. Ferrer saved, setting up a winner with a great angled forehand, before finishing into open court.
The players changed ends, and Isner again had the opportunity, driving a superb backhand up the line for set point on his own serve. Ferrer failed to return the subsequent serve, and the match went to a deciding set.
Ferrer earned two break points in the first game of set three, but Isner saved with two aces. Three more break points came and went, and Ferrer was even denied by a bad line call on a point where the Spaniard had a very good position. Isner then used the first serve to great effect to save the replayed point. Ferrer was given a code violation for a verbal outburst relating to the bad line call, sparking a furious conversation with the umpire. Isner would hold the game.
Isner asked for the doctor for a separate stomach issue, and was under severe pressure in game three, going love-forty down with two double-faults. Isner missed and Ferrer led, and then consolidated to love. Isner managed only one more hold, as Ferrer surged ahead and closed out when Isner put a return in the net.
Ferrer will now face Andy Murray in the semi-finals, against whom he has a six-ten record. Murray has beaten Ferrer in each of their last three meetings.
