Delray Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Second-seeded John Isner dropped the first set but rallied to a three-set victory on Friday to reach the semifinals at the Delray Beach Open tennis event.
The 6-foot-10 Isner edged fellow American Rhyne Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on the hardcourts at Delray Beach Tennis Center. Isner had 18 aces.
Isner will meet seventh-seeded Croat Marin Cilic, who was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili, in the semis. Cilic has now won 12 of his last 13 matches, winning the title in Zagreb two weeks ago and earning a runner-up in Rotterdam last week.
Former two-time NCAA singles champion Steve Johnson was an upset quarterfinal winner as well. The 24-year-old qualifier ousted sixth-seeded veteran Spanish left-hander Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour, 13 minutes.
The former USC Trojan Johnson's semifinal opponent on Saturday will be towering fourth-seeded South African and 2012 Delray Beach champ Kevin Anderson, who reached the final four by overcoming Aussie Marinko Matosevic, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-3.
The 2014 Delray Beach champ will earn $81,500.
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