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ATLANTA -- Top-seeded defending champion John Isner advanced to the Atlanta Open final for the fourth time in the tournaments five-year history, beating practice partner Jack Sock 7-5, 6-4 on Saturday. As the 12th-ranked Isner seeks his ninth career title on Sunday, Dudi Sela will try to win his first. The 94th-ranked Israeli player beat Germanys Ben Becker 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in a night match. Isner improved to 15-3 in the event after saving his best for the end of each set. The former University of Georgia star broke Socks service twice -- each time to capture a set. "Ive made four finals here. Winston-Salem is my hometown. This feels like my hometown because I went to school here," Isner said. "I feel like its my time of year to play well, and start picking up the pace a little bit." Before the final game of the first set, Isner won only two points against Socks first five service games. Then, in a game that lasted 14 minutes and reached deuce nine times, Isner won 13 points, survived six game points, and took the set when Sock sent a backhand wide. That was Socks third backhand of the set. All three were unforced errors. "I wasnt putting any pressure on him, but I told myself that might work to my favour (to crank up his energy)," Isner said. "If I could put a little pressure on him, maybe he could crack a little bit and . . . second set, same thing." Serving at 4-5 in the second set, Sock -- who three weeks ago teamed with Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil to win the doubles title at Wimbledon -- double faulted twice. When Sock sent his last forehand into the net, Isner moved through to the Atlanta final yet again. He lost in there in 2010 and 2011 to Mardy Fish, and fell in the 2012 semifinals to eventual champion Andy Roddick. As Isner began timing Socks first serves better, Sock took off some pace. That may have worked against him. "Against John, you dont have many chances at all. I had a good look at a backhand pass," Sock said. "I think it was a combination of me missing first serves, and him moving in a few feet closer (to return). "Usually, when he gets his racket on it, he hits it pretty clean. I started missing first serves, and hes dangerous on the second." Sock is ranked 72nd, but will become the second-highest ranked American when the new rankings come out -- moving ahead of Sam Querrey (61) and Steve Johnson (64). Querrey won a first-round match over Johnson in Atlanta before falling in the second round. When the 5-foot-9 Sela meets the 6-10 Isner, it will be just the second ATP final of his career. He lost to Andy Roddick in Beijing in 2008 in the first. Sela made a difference by winning 54 per cent of his second serves to just 41 per cent for Becker. The match clincher came after a 79 mph second serve. Isner often tops 140 mph. "I feel great," Sela said. "I came out playing well, and (Becker) began to play better, more aggressively. I was a bit lucky at the beginning of the third set and I was able to finish it out." Pospisil and Sock played Nicolas Barrientos and Victor Estrella Burgos in a doubles semifinal Saturday night for the right to face Querrey and Johnson in the final. Rene Robert Jersey . He made that dream a reality Wednesday night. Olt, who grew up in Branford, Connecticut, attended UConn and made a nearly 2 1-2 hour trek to Boston a handful of times to watch the Red Sox, belted a two-run homer, one of four hit by Cubs in a 16-9 rout that completed a three-game interleague series sweep. Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/customized/ .com) - Quarterback Cardale Jones will return to Ohio State next season. Patrick Roy Jersey .Before a raucous sellout crowd, the Hawks won for the 29th time in 31 games to extend their Eastern-best record to 36-8.As usual, pretty much everyone chipped in.Four starters were in double figures and backup point guard Dennis Schroder led a spurt at the start of the fourth quarter that helped the Hawks pull away. John Wensink Jersey . According to the sportsbook BoDog, the Stampeders are 8/5 favourites to take home the Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on November 24. CORK, Ireland -- Mikko Ilonen of Finland birdied the last hole to stay on top of the Irish Open leaderboard after the third round on Saturday. Ilonen, who has led from the outset, carded a 2-under-par 69 to move to a 12-under total at Fota Island. The leader by two shots overnight, Ilonen will take a one-shot lead into the final round over Danny Willett of England, who eclipsed Ilonens own course record by a shot with an 8-under 63 that also included a hole-in-one at the seventh. One shot further back on 10 under was crowd favourite Graeme McDowell, who birdied two of his closing three holes in a score of 69. The Northern Irishman was not only targeting a first victory this year but also a maiden Irish Open victory. "Its been fun to come here this week after the pressures of last weeks U.S. Open and just let off some steam and relax, and enjoy my golf again, and also enjoy the odd pint of Guinness in the evenings," McDowell said. "I will now try and give the crowds what they want tomorrow, and thats an Irish winner, but then there is a lot of names up on the leaderboard who will have issues with that. "Winning the Irish Open is well up my leaderrboard as far as wish lists of golf tournaments I would like to win, and to win would do many things like kick start my season and boost my Ryder Cup chances.dddddddddddd" He noted an Irish winner would also cap a good week for Irish golf, with Royal Portrush added to the British Open rotation, and Rory McIlroy committing to representing Ireland at the 2016 Olympics. Ilonen confessed he wore an emerald-colored shirt to try and win over the large Irish crowds. The Finn could have easily finished two clear when his attempted eagle chip shot at 18 lipped out, leaving a three-footer for his birdie. "I decided to wear a green shirt today, and the fans were really pleased, but then I knew my course record wouldnt last long and I called that," Ilonen said. "But I feel really comfortable out there, and really pleased to birdie 18, and get back the lead." Willett recorded his second hole-in-one of the year, after one at the China Open. "It was a perfect number, wind out of the left with an 8-iron, kind of saying go in and not really quite sure, but it slam-dunked in the hole," Willett said after his second 63 of the year. ' ' '