The latter part of the ATP tournaments are always the far more interesting for me. The stronger players come through I can always make my own judgements (right or wrong) a lot more decisively. Earlier rounds feature players in suspect form and to attempt to predict some of the match outcomes can be rather taxing. Here I can see a clash of similar styles and form over the year between two big aggressive players. It's American vs Russia, almost like a Rocky IV boxing bout, except this time the guy with the bigger weapons is the American.

Here we have the virtually unbreakable serving machine of John Isner vs the unflinching and uncompromising power from the baseline of the Russian juggernaut - Karen Khachanov. Both these players hit the ball really hard on serve and from the back of the court and you won't be seeing many rallies occur between the two. You will be seeing a barrel load of aces, plenty of forehand winners and at least one tie break.

I expect it to go to three sets but I also see Isner winning this one. Big John has a bigger serve than Khachanov and can also hold his own on return of serve because he has a great forehand and decent movement off the ball given his immense height of 6ft 10 inches. This combination has seen him win his Maiden Masters title this year and an ATP 250 both on home turf. The Miami Masters is possibly the best tournament of his career, in terms of both the prestige of the title and the opposition he defeated. Some how big John managed to find his way through Marin Cilic, Juan Martin Del Potro and Alexander Zverev all in one tournament! This shows how dangerous he can be given his consistency of serve as a foundation to build any victory upon.

Isner and Anderson took 50 games between them to decide the final set in the Wimbledon Semi Finals

Isner has also enjoyed a Wimbledon Semi Finals and a US Open Quarter Finals run this year. In his most recent tournament in Vienna he struggled to beat Gael Monfils who is one of the best defenders of the ball, but Khachanov is no Monfils, he doesn't have the speed or defense of the Frenchman and enjoys hitting winners and overpowering players from the back. He will struggle to get leverage on the Isner serve here and given his own serve is not as potent as big John's I can see Isner having a chance over three sets, especially if he takes Khachanov to a few tie breaks.

Isner at Wimbledon enjoyed a run to the semi's which almost saw him defeat possibly the only server in the game right now on par with him - Kevin Anderson. They were both so hard to break on serve that they took 50 games in the final set to settle the match. Isner's serve is the main part of his game, it has to be standing at 6ft 10 inches. For a guy so big he has done incredibly well at the age of 33 to get into the top 10. But you don't become a top 10 player based on your serve alone, for such a big guy Isner can still move about the court well enough to prove dangerous on the return of serve with his forehand and is capable of threatening Khachanov on serve.

Khachanov himself is having his best year so far but at the age of 22, is 11 years Isner's junior and has his entire career ahead of him. Isner has the experience and serve to his advantage but Khachanov has won two indoor hard court tournaments this year and is clearly on the up.

But I was surprised to see how poorly he played vs Nishikori in Vienna and more so that he refused to vary his game to try to overcome the Japanese. I can see the possibility of him becoming frustrated if Isner is on song with his service game here and can imagine the Russian trying to force the issue too hard against the American.

Khachanov leads the head to head 2-0 including a 7-6, 7-6 win in Toronto this year, so Isner will be weary of the threat the big Russian poses. Given Khachanov's recent form and his lead in the head to head, this is why he is the favourite at 1.50. But Isner at 2.65 given his serving capabilities is very generous odds from the bookies. On the day if Isner serves well you don't need too much more of his game to fire for him to claim victory over a young player who is still trying to work out the best way to play and to learn how to compromise on his game to overcome different types of player.

Match Prediction:

Isner won his first ever Masters this year at the grand tennis age of 33

Isner to win this over three sets. Given he is 2.65 for an outright win, it's worth just opting for that rather than any correct score outcome. I can see Isner taking revenge on the Russian this time round and feel he has a 50/50 chance here to see off Khachanov.