U.S. Open: Andy Murray outlasts John Isner in men’s quarterfinal

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Fourth-seeded Andy Murray outplayed 28th-seeded John Isner in the place where Isner usually excels -- the tiebreak.

And because of that, Murray advanced to the U.S. Open men’s semifinals with a 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2) win over the 28th-seeded Isner on Friday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Murray became only the seventh man in the open era of tennis to reach the semifinals of all four major tournaments in the same year. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic became the sixth on Thursday.

Isner had seemed out of the match after the first two sets, when he played with little energy. But after sneaking away with the third set, Isner was the more active player in the fourth set.

Murray was talking to himself, and in the ninth game of that set, Isner had two break points on Murray’s serve. Murray saved one with an ace and a second by forcing Isner into a forehand error. Murray ended up holding serve in that game with a forehand passing shot for a 5-4 lead.

In the tiebreak Murray got the first advantage, 2-1, when Isner double-faulted. Isner won a point with a service winner to draw within 4-2, but on the next point Isner drove an easy forehand into the net to give Murray a 5-2 lead. That allowed Murray to serve out the 3-hour, 24-minute win.

In Saturday’s semifinals, Murray will play the winner between Friday’s men’s quarterfinal between defending champion and second-seeded Rafael Nadal and 21st-seeded Andy Roddick, now the only American man left in the draw.

Djokovic and Roger Federer have already won their way to the semifinals.

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-- Diane Pucin in New York