Delray Beach Results Day 2: Isner Downs Another American While Qualifier Marinko Matosevic Knocks Out A Seed

John Isner eliminated a fellow American for the second straight day at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Wednesday.

After getting rid of pesky wild card Jesse Levine in the opening round, world No. 11 Isner defeated Ryan Sweeting in one hour and seven minutes. Isner is the second-best American, after world No. 8 Mardy Fish. But in Delray, Isner is the No. 1 seed. He hit 11 aces and won 78 percent of the points off his first serve. He saved all five of the break points (5) he offered to Sweeting. Isner’s final result was 6-3, 6-4.

From the AP:

“A lot of times for me to be successful I’m going to have to have my serve and I did today when I needed it,” Isner said. “I served well, went for my second serve, wasn’t going for broke, but I hit my spots and it got me out of a couple of jams.”

Isner will face No. 8 seed Bernard Tomic in the quarterfinals. Tomic defeated his American opponent Tim Smyczek in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5.

Then there’s Australian qualifier Marinko Matosevic. With 11 aces and 60 percent of his break points saved, Matosevic defeated No. 6 seeded Alex Bogomolov Jr. of Russia in three sets. The two-hour, one-minute match ended at 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 for Matosevic.

Matosevic is ranked No. 173 in the world. Bogomolov earned Most Improved Player honors of 2011 by his fellow players after he started last season at No. 166 and ended at No. 34.

Matosevic will play Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in the quarterfinals.