Just the 81 combined aces as Reilly Opelka outlasts John Isner

Reilly Opelka and John Isner set a new ATP Tour record for combined aces in a three-set match with the former coming out on top in both the ace count and match result.

Opelka sent down 43 aces while Isner served 38 as they set a new record of 81, which are 10 better than the 71 Nick Kyrgios and Ryan Harrison served in Brisbane earlier this year.

And world No 89 Opelka also led the way on the scoreboard as he won 6-7 (10-12), 7-6 (17-14), 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 33 minutes, having saved six match points.

He saves six match points and then does this?

😱😱

Some true grit from Reilly Opelka at @NewYorkOpen pic.twitter.com/etGkk8mvip

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 17, 2019

Unsurprisingly there were no breaks of serves in any of the sets with Opelka saving the match points during the second-set tie-breaker.

He will take on Brayden Schnur in the final after the Canadian qualifier beat sixth seed Sam Querrey 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-3.

Talk about a New York groove 😲@BraydenSchnur sails into the @NewYorkOpen final with a 7-6(7) 4-6 6-3 upset over Sam Querrey. pic.twitter.com/Hhg82FMQcn

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 16, 2019

“It’s an extremely big moment for me. These last few days have been unbelievable,” Schnur, who won his maiden ATP Tour match in New York this week, said.

“I was one of the last guys to get into qualifying and my coach said to just see what happens. I think I’ve turned a lot of heads this week and am on the come-up.”

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