Hewitt, Isner set for Atlanta semi-final clash

ATLANTA, Georgia: Australian Lleyton Hewitt booked his third ATP semi-final in four tournaments on Friday, beating Ivan Dodig to set up a clash with top-seeded American John Isner at the Atlanta Open.

Former world number one Hewitt, who reached the final at Newport earlier this month but lost to France's Nicolas Mahut, rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over third-seeded Croatian Dodig.

Hewitt is in search of his first ATP title since 2010. To have a shot at it, he'll have to get past big-serving Isner, who defeated James Blake 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/5).

Hewitt has won four of their five prior encounters, including a victory over Isner in the Newport semi-finals.

Saturday's other semi-final will pit second-seeded South African Kevin Anderson against American Ryan Harrison.

Anderson fired 12 aces in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 quarter-final win over
Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

The 27-year-old Anderson, who has reached a career high 21st in the world rankings, is in the final four the second time in as many tournaments after making it to the semis in Bogota last week.

Harrison reached his first tour-level semi-final in more than a year with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Colombia's Santiago Giraldo. (AFP)