HOUSTON — Ernesto Escobedo outlasted second-seeded John Isner 7-6 (6), 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5) on Friday in the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship to reach his first ATP Tour semifinal.
The 20-year-old Escobedo gave up 9 inches to the 6-foot-10 Isner, and overcame a 35-10 ace disadvantage in the all-American opening quarterfinal at Forest Oaks. Isner won the 2013 tournament.
Escobedo will face eighth-seeded Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 winner over third-seeded Sam Querrey of the United States.
Fourth-seeded Steve Johnson of the United States won in the night session, beating fifth-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-2, 6-4. Johnson won his lone tour title last year on grass at Nottingham in England.
Top-seeded Jack Sock of the United States faced sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain in the late match. Sock won the tournament in 2015 for his first ATP Tour title and added victories this year in Auckland, New Zealand, and Delray Beach, Florida.
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