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Isner did as much as he could in his last two tournaments

Gabashvili powered his way through Smyczek, dominating from the baseline. He would not allow him a single break point, and had 15 chances himself. One can recall him playing two close matches against Isner, and the one in Madrid last year had a single break. For the American this is his first clay match in 2015.

t's good to be top seed in a home tournament. Isner played a lot lately, which is good news. His first match being on Thursday, he had plenty of time to rest and train. He hit rock-bottom in Davis Cup, as he said, but he started climbing up against Murray, despite the defeat. Indian Wells always got the best out of him, and he played great, but could not get past the third round. He actually reached his maximum at Miami as well, as he lost to Đoković there. The Serbian player took back to back titles in those tournaments for the third time in a row, proving once again that he belongs in a class of his own. Isner can take some comfort in the fact that he was a tough nut to crack both times, it's just that the nut cannot crack the hammer.

The tall American can be especially proud of his Miami performances. He tied together three major victories, beating two Top 10 players, something he did not manage for a long time. Before beating Raonic he lost 11 matches in a row against Top 10 players. Prior to beating the Canadian, he demolished Dmitrov, who was up there too until recently, and then won in three tie-breaks against Raonic. He held on to his serve very firmly in all three matches, and then came Nishikori.

We seldom get the chance to say it, but the tall American was brilliant on return. He managed to score two 0-point breaks. Against Đoković, just like at Indian wells, he brought one set to a tie-break, but could not do more. So close, yet so far away.

-This was very good. I could have lost against Raonic, but I showed mental fortitude. Everything worked perfectly against Nishikori, just the way I wished and hoped it would- said Isner, pleased with both performances, while he simply could not do better against Đoković:

-He played very well. Against him, I have to play my best tennis, from start to end, and I could not do so. He was simply better.

The new points bring Isner back to the Top 20. Here he suffered a somewhat surprising defeat against Brown, for whom the finishing moments of matches are often the low point of the day. He got to the final and took the title before that, so he is also one of the favorites here. He will now face Gabashvili, who made the transition to clay a week ago. He won three matches in Mexico and was the only one to take a set against Pella as the stormed towards his seventh title in eight finales.

The Russian's performance against Smyczek was a pleasant surprise. The American may be looking up to Ferrer and may have his fighting spirit, but he is missing strength in his shots. It's been a while since Gabashvili won such a decisive victory. He got 15 break points, while allowing his opponents none. Naturally, the cause of so many chances is poor conversion rate, as he used just three. Regardless of all that, he still had nothing to worry about and scored a victory in just 64 minutes. We saw the same old Gabashvili who plays aggressive and tough tennis, and with such an attitude he can stand up to Isner, as we witnessed at Madrid last year. back then we saw just a single break in the match, The Russian did not get a set then, as he did in their first duel, when a third set 'tie-breaker' with 25 points decided the match. In that match, both players scored two breaks each.

Even though Isner started later than other in Houston, he is not the kind of a player capable of making a smooth transition. He's had great matches in Indian Wells and Miami, having played what might have been his best match ever against Nishikori. He was a tough opponent for Djokovic both times but everything starts over now. He won Houston once and reached the final before it. He was under this margin only once in his 7 matches here (the first one). It was at 21 games against Zeballos, who forced him into the second set the other time. He didn't allow Smyczek to get any break points, while having 15 such opportunities. He was tough and aggressive, which is what I expect today as well. He knows how to play Isner. Their match in Madrid last season finished with a single break point. Before that, the one in Delray Beach finished with a very long third set tie-break. Everything says the games over will be the outcome here. A margin this low at Isner cannot be missed out on. Especially because he just changed surfaces, which causes players like him trouble with return. His serves are dangerous at an surface, that doesn't change.