Isner Saves One Match Point In Auckland

Two-time champion John Isner fended a match point to keep his hopes for a third Auckland title alive on Tuesday. The second seed outlasted No. 56 Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) at the ASB Classic.

Jaziri had a match point at 6/5 on Isner’s serve in the third-set tie-break, but Isner erased it with a stiff backhand volley. The 6’10” right-hander then charged the net during the next two points as well, finishing the match with a backhand volley down the line.

Isner will meet countryman Steve Johnson in the second round. Johnson, the seventh seed, lost only two points on his first serve (31/33) to dismiss Yen-Hsun Lu 6-4, 7-6(4).

Robin Haase opened up the top half of the draw, upsetting four-time champion and third seed David Ferrer 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in two hours. The 29-year-old Haase struck 11 aces and saved six of nine break points against the Spaniard, who won Auckland crowns in 2007 and 2011-’13.

The Dutchman will next meet Portugal’s Joao Sousa, who beat Brit qualifier Brydan Klein 6-3, 6-4 in 73 minutes.