Isner Wins to Take US Into Davis Cup Semifinals John Isner's big serve and solid forehand proved too strong for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, defeating the Frenchman 6-3, 7-6 (4) 5-7, 6-3 Sunday to put the United States into the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time since 2008. Tsonga had chances, but could only break his serve once as the Americans took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, setting up a match against Spain. Defending champion Spain led Austria 3-1 behind a win by David Ferrer. Leading the Americans in the absence of ninth-ranked Mardy Fish, the 11th-ranked Isner played well. "I if play like I have this weekend, I can beat a lot of people," Isner said, looking ahead to the contest against Spain. Beating Gilles (Simon on Friday) and beating Jo are two very good wins. If I can keep this level up, I am going to be very hard to beat. Tsonga struggled to stay with Isner until his late rally. "I gave everything I could in the battle," Tsonga said. I didn't have much luck today and John took his chances. At 0-3 down in the fourth set, it became 'Mission Impossible.' Isner built on the U.S. team's momentum after a straight-set doubles win on Saturday. He didn't face a break point, while the pressure was clearly on the sixth-ranked Tsonga to even the score at the Monte Carlo Country club. U.S. player John Isner reacts after winning his match against French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the quarterfinal of the Davis Cup between France and U.S. in Monaco Sunday April 8, 2012. The U.S. team qualifies for the semi-final. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) Close You have to congratulate him. John Isner was huge today," France captain Guy Forget said. He played very well and he has a lot of talent. Jim Courier is a great leader, and he has a lot of class. Later, Gilles Simon was scheduled to play the 19-year-old Ryan Harrison in the meaningless final match. It will be Forget's last match as France's Davis Cup captain. The French fans got behind Tsonga early. But when he got to deuce on Isner's serve in the seventh game, the American's response was simple - two aces that Tsonga couldn't get near. Tsonga trailed 15-40 in the next game, and Isner broke for a 5-3 lead when the Frenchman's big second serve was slightly too long. Isner made a statement with his next service game by holding at love and clinching the set in 34 minutes with another ace that whistled past Tsonga before he could move. He offered Isner a gift of a break point at the start of the second set, sending a routine smash into the net. He saved that break point with a strong forehand that Isner could only paddle back into the net. In the next game, Tsonga's drop shot gave him his first chance of a service break. But, as he did all too often, Tsonga went for an extravagant forehand winner and the ball went out. Tsonga's mixed performance featured some great touches around the net and poor serving. He even shouted out 'Ah, non!' (Oh, no!) after a double-fault in the fifth game. Isner appeared more troubled by a wasp fluttering around his face midway through the second set, failing with several attempts to flick and then swatted it away with his racket. The tiebreaker went with serve until Isner stepped forward and smacked a big forehand down the line that rocketed past Tsonga. He clinched the set with yet another ace at 140 miles per hour. Tsonga finally began to make inroads on Isner's serve in the third set, pressuring him at 15-40 in the third game. But he had to wait until the 11th game to actually break him.