Paris: Isner ends Delpo’s run as Nadal withdraws

John Isner has maintained his hopes of a spot at the ATP Finals by beating Juan Martin del Potro in their Paris Masters quarterfinal.

The ninth-seeded American, who needs to win the tournament to reach the finals in London this month, overcame the Argentine 13th seed 6-4 6-7(5) 6-4.

“I’ve given myself a pretty good shot to qualify,” Isner said. “But it’s going to be very tough.”

The loss ended Del Potro’s hopes of qualifying for London’s elite eight-man field.

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“I’m exhausted but I did all my effort, I don’t have anything to (reproach) myself (for),” del Potro said.

The eighth and last berth for London is between Isner, Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain – who is ahead in the race – and Jack Sock, who beat Fernando Verdasco in a Friday late-night quarterfinal.

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Isner will face Filip Krajinovic next; the Serbian qualifier advanced when top-ranked Rafael Nadal pulled out of their encounter with a right-knee injury.

“I’m going to do my treatment, do my best to be playing in London,” Nadal said.

“But I cannot talk about that now; it is tough enough for me to pull out from here.”

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Krajinovic, ranked 77, is through to his first Masters semifinal and is the first qualifier to reach the last four in Paris since Jerzy Janowicz in 2012.

Meanwhile, unseeded Julien Benneteau continued his unexpected march by knocking out third-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic 7-6(5) 7-5.

He sealed victory on his first match point, breaking Cilic’s serve with a cross-court forehand winner.

“I was looking at my brother, who is my coach, and at my wife; I am so happy to make her proud,” an emotional Benneteau said.

“It’s an indescribable joy.”

In his last Paris Masters before retiring, the Frenchman has a shot at a first career title on his home court.

He will next play Sock.