Andy Murray takes on the big serving might of John Isner in the last eight of the US Open today.
Isner's been playing some standout stuff over the past fortnight, winning Winston-Salem and then carving a path through the draw in New York to reach the quarters of a major for the first time.
Murray has done the business here so far but apart from his third round win over Feliciano Lopez it hasn't been all that impressive from the fourth seed. He found himself two sets down against Robin Haase in round two and although he eased his way past Donald Young in straight sets yesterday, the quality of the tennis was far from vintage.
Isner on the other hand was at the peak of his game as he slugged past Juan Martin Del Potro's conqueror Gilles Simon 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in hot, humid conditions on a packed court 17 yesterday. However it will have taken its toll on the 6'9 American and he's had barely any time to recover from the exertion.
The last time these two played was the fourth round of the 2010 Australian Open when Murray cut Isner down to size with a clinical display of incisive returning which left the normally mild-mannered Isner so frustrated he was reduced to racket trashing.
If this goes long then Isner will probably run out of gas. His best chance is to hit Murray hard early on, come out firing on all cylinders with his serve and forehand and try to blow him out in three. Murray isn't the best starter as he showed against Haase so Isner has a chance but the likelihood is that the fourth seed will pull through in straight sets.
