Tennis: Isner reaches Indian Wells semifinals

INDIAN WELLS - American John Isner punched his semifinal ticket at the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Friday (Saturday, PHL time) with a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) victory over Latvia's Ernests Gulbis.

Isner, the 12th seed, next faces second-seeded Novak Djokovic, a two-time Indian Wells champion who overpowered unseeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-1, 6-3.

Isner defeated then number one Djokovic in the semifinals here in 2012 before falling to Roger Federer in the final.

Isner also beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters last year, his only two wins over the Serbian in six career meetings. - AFP