Winston-Salem, NC (Sports Network) - Reigning champion John Isner and Tomas Berdych were both winners on Friday and will now meet in the final at the $550,000 Winston-Salem Open, a final U.S. Open tune-up.
The third-seeded North Carolina native Isner improved to 9-0 at this event with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3) victory over former Australian Open runner-up Jo- Wilfried Tsonga on the hardcourts at Wake Forest University.
Tsonga managed to connect on only 1-of-10 break-point chances on Day 6, as the massive-serving Isner launched 24 aces and prevailed in 2 hours, 12 minutes. The towering American is now 3-1 lifetime against the Frenchman, who also lost to Isner in a Davis Cup match in France earlier this year.
Berdych, the tournament's second seed, then overcame 18 aces by seventh-seeded American Sam Querrey to earn a 6-4, 6-3 decision in an hour and 39 minutes.
Querrey, who had won 13 of his last 16 matches on the ATP World Tour, fell to 1-2 lifetime against Berdych despite converting on 3-of-4 break chances against the Czech.
Isner will appear in his 12th career final, seeking a fifth championship, while Berdych reached his 15th career final and will try for his eighth title.
Saturday's champion will collect $73,930.
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