Second seed John Isner continues his journey in Nice by defeating young Croatian Dusan Lajovic 7/6-6/4, reaching the tournament semi-final for the first time.
The American giant needs no introduction, but his opponent, much more discreet, remains unknown to the general public. At 24 years old, Dusan Lajovic is ranked 75th in the world. His record is still titleless, but it does include a Davis Cup final with Croatia in 2013.
Despite a first set that went to a tie break, the giant was not really worried, and the match lacked great intensity. The young Lajovic showed that he has mastered his craft by delivering some good shots, and Isner, more energetic than in the previous round, once again proved that he is not just a big server. A lover of the region, he aims to win the title despite having serious competitors like the young Dominic Thiem, whom he will face tomorrow in the semi-final.
A Man Overboard
The defending champion, Ernests Gulbis, was knocked off course in the quarter-final. Clearly lacking confidence and searching for bearings, the Latvian remained powerless and even seemed lost on the court. His opponent of the day, Dominic Thiem, naturally took advantage, even though it’s never easy to play against a friend. Furthermore, the young 21-year-old Austrian will need to maintain extreme focus tomorrow against Isner, as he knows he’ll have very few chances to beat the giant.
Mayer Wins the Blue and White Duel
The third quarter-final of the day, opposing two Argentinians, swung in favor of the higher-ranked Leonardo Mayer. Very aggressive and stationed at his baseline, the fourth seed was able to apply constant pressure on Juan Monaco, who, despite a strong defensive effort, could not overcome his compatriot. After being stopped in the quarter-finals last year, Mayer now finds himself in the semi-final and will face the young Croatian Coric.
Coric Impresses
The last match of the day, featuring Borna Coric against James Duckworth, who had beaten Quentin Halys in the previous round, was in favor of the young Croatian prodigy. Delivering an impressive first set, he displayed great maturity despite his young age to clinch victory in two sets, despite some missed opportunities. Calm and composed, he also shines through his sportsmanship, a quality becoming rare in the current circuit.
