Paris Masters: Filip Krajinovic beats John Isner to reach final

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Filip Krajinovic
Filip Krajinovic returned to the world's top 100 this year after struggling with injury

Qualifier Filip Krajinovic stunned world number 14 John Isner to reach Sunday's final of the Paris Masters.

Serb Krajinovic, playing in his first semi-final of the season, beat Isner 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) to ensure the American cannot qualify for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in London.

Krajinovic, ranked 77th in the world, will play another American - 16th seed Jack Sock - in the final.

Sock beat France's Julien Benneteau 7-5 6-2 in the second semi-final.

If he beats Krajinovic - playing in his first ATP Masters final - he will take the final qualifying spot for the Tour Finals from Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.

Krajinovic, 25, received a walkover into the semi-final after Rafael Nadal withdrew on Friday with a knee injury.

Isner started strongly, forcing the Serb to save three break points in his opening service game, but Krajinovic broke Isner in the fifth game.

Big-serving Isner sent down 31 aces but Krajinovic held his nerve in the deciding set, before bursting into tears as he won the tie-break.

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32 comments

  • Comment posted by dpm180, at 18:38 4 Nov 2017

    @nonethewiser

    Perhaps Krajinovic can take some inspiration from Djokovic and put in the hard yards to go with his undoubted skill.

  • Comment posted by MK, at 02:16 5 Nov 2017

    Just a couple of words about Krajinovic today. Absolutely brilliant!

  • Comment posted by Dbmaddison, at 19:17 4 Nov 2017

    How nice to see another Yankee ball-basher beaten by a skilled tennis player.

  • Comment posted by armchair59, at 18:38 4 Nov 2017

    Isner is not my favourite player but imagine how successful he might have been with that serve playing on the quick courts of 20 years ago. Probably would have had a Wimbledon record similar to Ivanisevic if not better. The tennis now is more exciting though as at least we have some rallies on grass and hard courts.- but has it gone too far the other way?

  • Comment posted by bignoyes, at 20:23 4 Nov 2017

    Well done young man. Good luck in the finals vs Sock!

  • Comment posted by U16231627, at 12:27 5 Nov 2017

    It's worth recalling that Edmund nearly beat Sock. Edmund may not be another Murray, but he's a hard grafter and learns from his losses. Given the lack of real stars once Fed etc finally hang up their racquets, it isn't unrealistic for Edmund to make the top 10. But he'll face pressure as the sole decent Brit. In spite of the millions thrown at it, British tennis still lacks strength in depth.

  • Comment posted by exile annie, at 01:39 5 Nov 2017

    Somehow I doubt that's the final the organisers and spectators were hoping for....but may the best (better) man win.

  • Comment posted by SunshineBear, at 20:31 4 Nov 2017

    We done. Good luck playing Jack Sock in the final. Just go for it !

  • Comment posted by U16218993, at 20:26 4 Nov 2017

    Man beats machine, serving machine. Good luck tomorrow!

  • Comment posted by SPQR, at 12:20 5 Nov 2017

    Really pleased to see this young fellow defeat the serving machine. All the sweeter give that Isner hit 31 aces. Really tired of big servers just thrashing their way through competitions.

  • Comment posted by tom, at 00:02 5 Nov 2017

    Isner is a talent watching him against Murray in the Paris final last year he was far from just a serving machine he pushed Murray all the way when Murray was being all before him

  • Comment posted by U15401290, at 16:28 5 Nov 2017

    People calling Edmund a choker are so wrong. He reached the semis in Vienna and the semis in Paris which is no mean feat. Also, Sock played the MTO card at a crucial point at the end of the second set in Paris, which smacked of gamesmanship and was very distracting. Kyle IS getting closer and deserves support!

  • Comment posted by armchair59, at 00:00 5 Nov 2017

    Actually claiming Isner is just a ball basher and not skilful is incorrect. He is simply playing to his strengths. Nadal does not have a killer serve so he concentrates on defence but people really admire this skill. If he had a big serve I assure you he would use it and save his legs like Isner.

  • Comment posted by GoGoGi, at 15:47 5 Nov 2017

    I don’t think Edmund is necessarily a choker I just think most British players can’t seem to play consistent for more than one set or sometimes they manage one match.

  • Comment posted by Mark, at 21:08 4 Nov 2017

    @4. Well said. They really have fallen behind in terms of skill level.

  • Comment posted by armchair59, at 16:33 5 Nov 2017

    @22 says 'Kyle doesn't want to end up unfulfilled like Henman...' Why do people refer to Henman as a disappointment or a failure when he got to world no.4 and reached 6 grand slam semi finals? If winning Grand Slam titles is the only measure of success 95% of tennis players are failures. Do the French see Sébastien Grosjean or the Spanish see David Ferrer as choking failures?

  • Comment posted by U16231627, at 14:11 5 Nov 2017

    21. Posted by dave

    I'd be interested in other examples of Edmund's third set choking. If his problem is psychological, maybe he needs to change his coaching set up? There are several examples of players reaching new heights with new back up (Konta, Wawrinka). Kyle doesn't want to end up unfulfilled like Henman, who refused to change Felgate in favour of Tony Pickard, Edberg's old coach

  • Comment posted by dave61, at 21:56 5 Nov 2017

    22

    Against top 40 players : he is 0-9 ( the first 8 were 3-6 or 4-6, the latest one this last week against Sock 6-7(5) having been 5-1 up )

    Against top 50 players : he is 1-11 ( he beat Steve Johnson, then WR 46, in the Winston-Salem QF in his pre US Open run )

    Against all players : he is 7-17

  • Comment posted by armchair59, at 18:49 5 Nov 2017

    @28. Don't agree that Henman lacked a killer instinct - see his 5 set route to RG semi final. However he did not have a killer serve to serve out matches when the Wimbledon courts were slowed up. Perhaps Pickard would have made a difference - you may be right - but he should have asked the Wimbledon organisers to keep the courts quick for his style of tennis as I think Hewitt did in Australia

  • Comment posted by dave61, at 18:27 5 Nov 2017

    22. Just look at all the tournaments he's played in this year where he has lost in the third set.

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