Isner falls in Valencia

Published November 20, 2014

Towering American John Isner was a second-round upset victim Wednesday at the Valencia Open.

Rising Belgian David Goffin toppled the fifth-seeded Isner 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-4. The 6-foot-9 Isner lost despite uncorking 21 aces in the 2-hour, 12- minute affair.

Also in the second round, seventh-seeded Croat Marin Cilic cruised past Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-4 and Croatian qualifier Ivan Dodig dismissed wild card and fading former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Verdasco was the Valencia champion back in 2004.

The first round concluded on Day 4 when capable Gilles Muller of Luxembourg upset eighth-seeded Canadian slugger Milos Raonic 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) and reigning champion Marcel Granollers of Spain handled Czech qualifier Jan Hajek 7-5, 6-4 on the hardcourts at the City of the Arts and Sciences. Raonic popped 16 aces in a losing effort.

Granollers, who beat Argentine Juan Monaco in last year's Valencia finale and was the runner-up here in 2010, will meet 2006 runner-up Gilles Simon of France on Thursday.

In some other second-round play on Thursday, top-seeded David Ferrer will take on fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos and second-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro will tangle with resurgent American Sam Querrey. Ferrer titled here in 2008 and 2010 and was the runner-up in 2005. Almagro reached three straight Valencia finals from 2006-08 and won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.

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