Dallas Open: Isner vs Wolf Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Dallas Open as John Isner takes on J.J. Wolf in the semifinal on Saturday, February 11, 2023.

John Isner will be hoping to go one better this year and reach the Dallas Open final. But standing in his way is in-form compatriot J.J. Wolf who enters this match as the slight favorite. Who will prevail?

John Isner created history on Friday as he became the first man in the Open Era to win 500 tiebreak sets. He achieved that record after winning the first set of his quarterfinal match against Emilio Gomez. And the big-serving American nearly needed another tiebreak to complete the win but earned a break in the last game of the match to seal a 7-6 7-5 win. He returns to the Dallas Open semifinal for the second year in a row, hoping for a positive result this time after losing to Reilly Opelka last year.

J.J. Wolf, meanwhile, continues to go places. Wolf has kept his down and gone about his business with assurance and confidence. Since winning his first match outside US soil last year, he’s looked like a revitalized player. He is currently sitting at a career-high ranking of No. 43 and is projected to break the top 40 on Monday. The 24-year-old will have the chance to contest a second ATP final if he can get the better of John Isner’s serve on Saturday at the Dallas Open.

John Isner leads J.J. Wolf 1-0 in their head-to-head. Their only meeting before this was also played on US soil back in 2021, where Isner defeated the former Ohio State collegiate player in three sets in Atlanta. The roles are likely to be reversed here as Wolf comes in as the slight favorite following his tremendous start to the season. There will be plenty at stake not least the chance to contest an ATP final. But Wolf could overtake Isner in the rankings for the first time by winning on Saturday at the Dallas Open. He will need to get under his compatriot’s skin and put him under duress on serve – something no player has done effectively throughout the week. This will be tight, just like in Atlanta, but we reckon Wolf’s return and experience should hold him in good stead to get the better of Isner.