Maxime Cressy Knocks off four-time Newport champion Isner to reach final

Maxime Cressy defeated John Isner 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday evening and will face the winner of the match between Australian Jason Kubler and Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the No 3 seed, in the final

Maxime Cressy celebrates after winning his first round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime, Wimbledon 2022 || © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Tennis Majors

July 16, 2022

No 4 seed Maxime Cressy won against second seed John Isner 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to move into the final of the Hall of Fame Open at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport on Saturday evening.

The 25-year-old cruises into his third ATP final of the season, edging the four-time champion and snapping his 10-match winning streak at Newport. Isner, the 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2019 champion at the Hall of Fame Open, drops to 25-6 at the event with his loss.

Cressy, ranked No 41, will play the winner of the match between Australian Jason Kubler and Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the No 3 seed, next.

Cressy was fortunate to close out the match, doing so thanks to a strange return winner that allowed him to break for 5-3 in the final set. The return was a mishit that sailed high and barely made it over the net – but when it hit the grass it kicked back to Cressy’s side of the net before Isner could reach the ball.

Cressy then saved a pair of break points, rallying from 15-40 down to close out the match in the next game.

The American improves to 18-16 on the season. He has risen in the rankings from 122 at the start of the season to inside the top-40 on Monday.

Cressy has reached the Melbourne final (loss to Nadal) and the Eastbourne final (loss to Fritz) already in 2022. He’ll bid for his first title on Sunday.