John Isner has earned a spot in the third round of the Rogers Cup after clinching a 7-6(1) 4-6 6-3 victory over home favourite Vasek Pospisil in Montreal.
It was a disastrous start for Pospisil, who lost his serve in the opening game of the match, but the Canadian recovered well to break back and force a tie-break.
However, Isner would refuse to make further mistakes on serve in the tie-break and he clinched a 7-1 success to seize the advantage.
The 16th seed was unable to carry the momentum forward, though, as Pospisil responded in the perfect manner by breaking the American's serve in the first game of the second set.
Pospisil quickly grew in confidence to extend the rallies and make life uncomfortable for Isner, who was powerless to prevent his rival from getting back level.
Both men looked comfortable on serve in the decider until a couple of sloppy points from Pospisil put him on the back foot, and Isner capitalised to secure the vital break.
After saving two break points, Isner missed the chance to convert four match points on the Pospisil serve, but the big-serving American would not be denied for long as he held to love to secure his progress.
Callum Mulvihill
