DELRAY BEACH (Florida): Top seed John Isner hammered 28 aces en route to a three-set victory over Jesse Levine in the first round of the ATP Tour’s Delray Beach International Championships on Tuesday.

Isner, who is looking to regain his form after battling a knee injury earlier this year, got off to a slow start against Canada’s Levine but played an efficient third set to win 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-4.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Isner said. “The first match outdoors is always tough.

“Very different conditions. Jesse’s good. I’ve always had trouble with him,” he added.

“Honestly, it was a good one to get through. A win is a win and I haven’t had many lately. I’m just trying to get this train going. I’ll rest up and I anticipate I’ll be better.”

Isner reached the semi-finals in Delray Beach last year. He moves on to play Japan’s Go Soeda, who survived a third-set tie-break to defeat last year’s finalist Marinko Matosevic.

Soeda trailed 3-6 in the tie-break but managed to save three straight match points during a five-point winning streak to claim the match 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).

Former winner Kei Nishikori retired in the first set on Tuesday with an oblique strain when trailing hard-serving Ivo Karlovic 4-5.

The Japanese No. 1 Nishikori was fresh off winning his third career ATP Tour title on Sunday in Memphis. — AFP

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