John Isner, 3-time defending champ, advances in Atlanta; Purav Raja-Divij Sharan win

The 6-foot-10 former University of Georgia star has reached the finals in Atlanta five of the previous six years and is 21-3 in the event. He has 10 ATP Tour titles.

“I think tactically I did some things well out there. I needed to go to his forehand and I did. I was going to his backhand a little too much early on and was paying the price for it. The game plan was get the ball high and up on his forehand because he does not like that at all.”

In the quarterfinals, Isner will face face eighth-seeded Taylor Fritz in an all-American match. Fritz topped American Bjorn Fratangelo 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the late match.

Seventh-seeded Donald Young and fellow American Reilly Opelka set up a quarterfinal matchup in the afternoon session. Young beat countryman Tim Smyczek 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3, and 18-year-old Opelka upset third-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa,6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5. The 6-foot-11 Opelka had 20 aces.

In the doubles event, Purav Raja and Divij Sharan beat Jonathan Erlich and Mariusz Fyrstenberg 6-3, 7-6 to advance to the quarters. They next face Alexandr Dolgopolov and Sergiy Stakhovsky.