Isner: I’ll invite Trump to watch if I reach the last four

IF JOHN ISNER can ace his way through to Friday’s semi-finals, he is ready to incur the wrath of social media by inviting Donald Trump to Centre Court. The US President — a big tennis fan — arrives in London for his UK visit on Thursday night and American No 1 Isner would appreciate the support should he reach the last four. ‘I’d love to have Trump come watch me,’ said No 9 seed Isner. ‘That would be awesome. Maybe I’ll tweet at him if I win on Wednesday. I know a lot of people won’t like that, but I don’t care.’ The 6ft 8in Isner reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time yesterday by blasting through 19-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6, 7-6. Despite his astonishing serve, Isner has an awful record at the All England Club, having never gone beyond the third round before this fortnight. The 33-year-old from North Carolina is best known around these parts for his absurd match against Nicolas Mahut in 2010, which he won 70-68 in the final set. If Isner is ever going to get close to that scoreline again it may be in the last eight tomorrow, when he faces another ace machine in 6ft 5in Milos Raonic, who saw off American Mackenzie McDonald in four sets. Those two top the aces charts this fortnight with 135 for Isner and 117 for the Canadian. With the sun baking the courts, the ball is bouncing higher and Isner said: ‘The conditions are very suitable for big servers like myself and Milos.’ The quarter-final line-up is looking like the land of the giants, with 6ft 8in Kevin Anderson of South Africa beating Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 7-6. The only man left under six feet tall is Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who beat an injured Ernests Gulbis 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-1.