OPELKA BEATS TOPSEEDED ISNER ANEW

Reilly Opelka edged top-seeded John Isner the same way he knocked his fellow American out of the Australian Open, winning a match full of tiebreakers Saturday night, Feb. 16, in a New York Open semifinal that set a record for combined aces in a threeset match. Opelka fought off six match points in a marathon second set and went on to win 6-7 (8), 7-6 (14), 7-6 (4) to move within a victory of his first ATP title. The 6-foot-11 Opelka and 6-10 Isner combined for 81 aces and there were no breaks of serve. Opelka hit 43 aces, Isner had 38, and each had only one double fault. “I just competed for every point,” Opelka said. “I served very well. I thought he served unbelievable, but he’s the greatest server of all time so kind of what I expected.” It was similar to their meeting in Melbourne, when Opelka beat the ninthranked Isner in a first-round match that went four tiebreakers. /