Del Potro Stops Isner For 17th Straight Win

The winner stood in the middle of the court and launched tennis balls into the crowd. The loser quickly exited and did not stop to inscribe items that children stretched over railings. For the previous 1 hour 10 minutes, those two figures mirrored each other. Their lanky bodies covered the court. They spread powerful forehands, two-handed backhands and anchored their success to their mighty serves.

But the difference between Juan Martín del Potro and John Isner became distinguishable afterward. It showed in their posture and tone following del Potro's 6-4, 6-4 win yesterday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

Said del Potro: "I'm feeling good. I win three tournaments I beat very good players. I am playing very good."

Said Isner: "I mean, it's a good showing. It's better than leaving first round obviously. Obviously I wanted to do a lot better than this."

Del Potro, the world's 19th-ranked player, continued his strong play of late with his methodical performance. In advancing to the semifinals with his 17th straight win, he was tirelessly consistent and showed no wear against Isner.

Del Potro capitalized on opportunities to break Isner's serve in each set -- the only glaring lapses by the 134th-ranked Isner, a crowd favorite after his improbable ride to the final at last year's Legg Mason.

The second-seeded del Potro will now face fourth-seeded Tommy Haas, who defeated Alejandro Falla, 7-5, 6-1.

But their meeting could be anticlimactic. Del Potro, a 19-year-old Argentine, is one of the fastest rising stars in tennis and is playing with an unbeatable confidence. Del Potro has won each of the last three events he has entered, becoming the first player in ATP Tour history to accumulate his first three wins consecutively.

"The guy is 20 in the world or something, but he's playing like he's top 10, as hot as he is," Isner said. "You don't beat guys like that every day."

In the first set, del Potro and Isner went game for game. One errant stretch turned into Isner's downfall. Up 30-love, Isner double faulted. He then failed to put away an easy kill, pushing it wide. Two errantly placed returns later, he lost the game. In breaking, del Potro took a 5-4 advantage.

In the second set -- delayed 27 minutes because of a light drizzle -- the opportunistic del Potro again broke Isner. And again Isner had himself to blame, giving away the game and eventually his chance at winning the set. Del Potro gained a 4-3 advantage thanks to Isner hitting a return into the net and smashing another out of play. After pushing the game's final shot wide, Isner threw down his racket and kicked it back to the sideline.

"He played better on the big points today," Isner said, "and that's probably because he's won so many matches lately."

So del Potro will continue at the Legg Mason, where he has looked so good this week that he might be on his way to a fourth consecutive tournament victory.

"I think guys just have to get on top of him," Isner said. "He's not really missing many balls. You think maybe he'll break down over the course of this long win streak but obviously he hasn't."