MONTPELLIER, France (AP)—Fifth-seeded John Isner of the United States moved to 999 aces for the season as he edged out French qualifier Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-3 in the second round of the Open Sud de France on Wednesday.
The 2.09-meter (6-foot-9) Isner sent down 27 aces in a 2 hours, 11 minutes win on the indoor hard court and converted his sole break point to advance, while Mannarino wasted his six break chances.
Isner set a record by firing 113 aces during his historic first-round win over Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon earlier this year which went a total of 183 games and 11 hours, 5 minutes.
The 25-year-old American has already served 346 aces more than his previous best last season when he reached 653.
Isner will next play either No. 3 Gael Monfils of France or Steve Darcis of Belgium for a semifinal spot.
The top two seeds also advanced to the quarterfinals with No.1 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia defeating Mischa Zverev of Germany 7-5, 6-3 and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga booking a spot in the next round by cruising past Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-3, 6-4.
Davydenko saved 10 break points and broke Zverev twice while Tsonga fended off five break points and served 11 aces.
Jarkko Nieminen of Finland rallied from one set down to claim his first victory in six matches over Frenchman Florent Serra and reach the second round with a 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-1 win.
In the remaining first round match, Gilles Simon beat Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-4 in an all-French encounter.