Isner wins but rain hits Nishikori, Del Potro

WASHINGTON: John Isner, fresh off a seventh ATP title, fired 19 aces Wednesday to beat Alex Kuznetsov 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4) at the ATP and WTA Washington Open.

Eighth-seeded American Isner, who won last week at Atlanta, advanced to the round of 16 at the $1.76 million hardcourt event before rain washed out most of the day's matches.

That included tournament openers for Argentine top seed Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion and a two-time Washington winner, and second seed Kei Nishikori, who received first-round byes.

Two other second-round matches were halted, with South African seventh seed Kevin Anderson leading Australian qualifier James Duckworth 6-3, 3-6, 5-4 and German third seed Tommy Haas leading US qualifier Tim Smyczek 3-6, 7-5, 1-0.

The total washouts for Nishikori, ranked a career-best 11th this week, and Del Potro mean they will have to win five times in four days to take the title.

Thursday's schedule has both players slated for two matches.

That bolsters Isner's hopes for back-to-back trophies, despite a tough title run last week.

Big-serving Isner won six of seven tie-breakers he played in Atlanta, but dropped one to Anderson in the final and only won the last-set tie-breaker after saving two match points.

Isner will play India's 129th-ranked Somdev Devvarman on Thursday for a spot in the quarter-finals. They last played in the 2007 US college finals when top seed Isner was an upset loser.

Mardy Fish, who has missed much of the past year with heart problems, ousted French 13th seed Julien Benneteau 6-3, 7-5 for his 299th career ATP match victory.

The 64th-ranked American's back-to-back wins are his first since March.

On the women's side, Germany's Andrea Petkovic upset sixth-seeded compatriot Mona Barthel 6-2, 6-2 to reach the last eight in the only match completed.

Three other second-round matches were postponed to Thursday, including German top seed Angelique Kerber's meeting with American Melanie Oudin. (AFP)