There will be a familiar feeling for John Isner and Philipp Kohlschreiber when they meet for a place in the US Open fourth round today, since it marks the third successive year that the pair have played at the tournament.
Isner, America’s highest-ranked man at the tournament, has a 4-2 record over the German player, but the two losses came at Flushing Meadows, with Kohlschreiber winning in five sets in 2012 and four sets last year.
Both men came through their second-round ties on Thursday, setting up today’s meeting, with Isner, the No 13 seed, anxious to avoid a third loss in as many summers.
“It’s a weird situation. We have played three years in a row in the third round at this event. It’s bizarre,” said Isner, who is trying to become America’s first male major champion since Andy Roddick in 2003.
The two also have similar playing styles, relying mostly on big serves.
“I thought our matches the last two years have been pretty high-quality,” Isner said. “I’ll have some time to go over some things that I didn’t do as well in the last two matches here, and some things he did well.”
Isner made the third round by seeing off Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6, 6-4, 6-2, while Kohlschreiber, seeded 22nd, had an easier time after French opponent Michael Llodra was forced to quit with a knee injury.
In 2013, Kohlschreiber prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 against Isner in a match that had finished at 2.26am, equalling the latest finish to a match in Flushing Meadows history. In 2012, he won 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 after trailing at one stage.
Isner does not believe that Kohlschreiber presents any unusual challenges or has a hold over him.
“I wouldn’t really call it a problem,” Isner said. “I have beaten him more times than he’s beaten me overall. But he’s beaten me here.
“I remember last year, I wasn’t disappointed with how I played. He just played better than me. Simple as that ... I’m just going to have to try to be better than him.”
Yesterday, China’s Peng Shuai and former world No 1 Jelena Jankovic led the way into the women’s round of 16.
Peng, showing no sign of a let-down after her second-round upset of fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, dispatched 28th-seeded Italian Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-3 in 75 minutes in the sun-splashed Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“I was really nervous,” Peng said, afraid that the adrenaline would have her belting groundstrokes to the back fence.
She managed to keep the nerves in check to equal her best US Open showing – a fourth-round appearance in 2011.
“I have a lot of motivation,” said Peng, who has the eyes of China fixed upon her, since compatriot Li Na is sidelined by injury. “I wanted to fight and I really enjoyed the play.”
Ninth-seeded Jankovic was runner-up in 2008 – her only appearance in a grand slam final to date and one she is keen to repeat, if not improve upon.
“I feel hungry, I want to do well again,” said Jankovic, who called the bustling US Open her favourite tournament, even if it means coping with brash fans who ask mid-match for a quick photo pose.
Such distractions did not stop Jankovic from sweeping past Sweden’s 96th-ranked Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.
“It was nice to get off the court quite fast,” Jankovic said. “It was quite hot out there. I played a solid match. I was patient. I waited for my chance to execute, and that’s what I did.”
Larsson had upset Sloane Stephens in the second round.
Australian wildcard Bernard Tomic pulled out of the US Open with a left hip injury, handing fourth-seeded David Ferrer a third-round berth.
Tomic, 21, said he had also been battling flu prior to his first round victory over Dustin Brown, and when the hip pain flared he opted to take a conservative approach.
