John Isner advances to Atlanta Open semifinals

By MATT WINKELJOHN
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) - Two-time defending champion John Isner ran his Atlanta Open winning streak to 10 matches Friday, riding his big serve to a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Ricardis Berankis.

The top-seeded Isner had 19 aces less than 24 hours after ripping off 33 in a two-set victory over Radek Stepanek. Isner will face training partner Denis Kudla Saturday in his 34th ATP Tour semifinal. Kudla, a qualifier, beat Dudi Sela 7-5, 6-0 to reach his first ATP semifinal.

Isner is trying to reach the Atlanta final for the fifth time in six years. He lost in the finals in 2010 and 2011, fell in the 2012 semifinals to eventual champion Andy Roddick, and won the past two years.

On Friday night in the other quarterfinals, second-seeded Vasek Pospisil faced No. 5 Marcos Baghdatis, and No. 7 Gilles Muller played Go Soeda.

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