Paris Masters: John Isner serves it hot

John Isner of USA returns to Switzerland’s Roger Federer in their Paris Masters third round match on Thursday. Isner won 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-6 (7-5). — AFP

Novak Djokovic kept his win streak alive at the Paris Masters on Thursday, but there was defeat for Roger Federer at the hands of big-serving American John Isner.

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray also reached the quarterfinals, but in contrasting styles.

World No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic went through to the last eight in the final tournament of the ATP’s regular season with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Gilles Simon that took his unbeaten run to 19 matches.

It was far from being the world number one’s most commanding performance of late as he struggled with his serve, but it meant he has not dropped a set since the US Open final against Federer in early September.

He has now won 26 sets in a row, taking him past his own previous best of 24 sets which he achieved in early 2014.

The Serb, who has won three of the four Grand Slam titles and five of the eight Masters 1000 series titles so far contested this year, dropped serve five times against the wily Frenchman, four coming in the second set.

But on each occasion he immediately struck back to prevent Simon from gathering any momentum.

The 10-time major tournament winner said his struggles on serve had been frustrating.

Djokovic will next play fifth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic who eased past an injury-hampered Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4 for a place in the semifinals of a tournament he has won three times previously, including the last two years

Federer was shocked to find himself leaving for home without once having dropped his serve as Isner typically won on two tie-breaks 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), hammering down 27 aces in the process.

The Swiss legend agreed that Isner had served superbly on the big points.

“He’s got the size, got the power, got the angles,” the 34-year-old said. “I thought he did very well today when he needed it. The breakers, he served great. Those are the ones he needed. Yeah, that was the difference.

Isner will play David Ferrer for a semifinal spot after the Spanish eighth seed outlasted Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-4.

Nadal saved a match point in the second set tie-breaker against South African Kevin Anderson before prevailing 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.

He will next take on French Open champion Stan Wawrinka who beat Victor Troicki 6-4, 7-5.