Isner books Hewitt final

John Isner overcame friend and compatriot Ryan Harrison 7-6 6-3 to reach the final of the ATP Hall of Fame Championships.

Big-serving American eases past compatriot on grass courts

Defending champion John Isner overcame friend and compatriot Ryan Harrison 7-6 6-3 to reach the final of the ATP Hall of Fame Championships. The top seed fired 11 aces in the win and will face veteran Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the final. The match went with serve until the first-set tiebreaker, which stayed close until Isner won three straight points for a 6-3 lead. Harrison saved the first set point he faced when Isner sent a service return long, but Harrison double-faulted on the next. Isner broke early in the second frame and that was all he needed. He never faced a break point himself in the 86-minute match. Hewitt rallied from an early break in both the first and third sets to beat former champion Rajeev Ram 6-4 5-7 6-2, finally wrapping up the victory in two hours and 21 minutes. The 31-year-old Aussie was pleased to keep his run going on the grass courts of Newport after receiving a wildcard entry. "It's fantastic, obviously," said Hewitt, who is again battling back from injury after undergoing radical foot surgery in February. "You come back from surgery and you think about everything. My whole mechanics have changed. So that's taking a bit of time."