TENNIS in DEPTH.

A first-time all-American battle will punctuate the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships on Sunday afternoon, with two of the country’s most promising – and tallest – rising stars meeting for the title.

John Isner and Sam Querrey – ranked No.25 and No.31 in the world, and seeded No.6 and No.8 here, respectively, both made it through tough draws and will now play each other for the very first time in the final at the Racquet Club of Memphis. They do know each other very well though – they are Davis Cup teammates and good friends.

According to ATP World Tour records, this is the tallest final ever – Isner is 6′9″, Querrey 6′6″ – and it is also the first time two Americans will play for a title since last July in Indianapolis, when Querrey was a runner-up to Robby Ginepri. Isner is going for his second career ATP World Tour title and Querrey his third.

Querrey was responsible for the departure of top seed Andy Roddick, beating the world No.7 in three sets in the quarterfinals.

After the singles final, the two will pair up in the doubles final, taking on British-Australian pairing Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr.

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Andy Roddick’s bid to defend his title at the ATP Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis came to a thudding halt on Friday night at the hands of fellow American Sam Querrey.

Eighth seed Querrey broke the top seed’s serve twice in the deciding set to prevail 7-5 3-6 6-1 in their quarter-final match-up and set up a last-four clash with Latvian youngster Ernest Gulbis.

Gulbis, who ousted third seed Radek Stepanek in round two, continued his fine run with a battling 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/3) victory over another Czech on Friday – fifth seed Tomas Berdych.

The other semi-final will be between Philipp Petzschner and sixth seed John Isner.

Germany’s Petzschner overcame Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko 6-1 1-6 6-1 while American Isner defeated Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-1 7-6 (9/7).

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Andy Roddick’s bid for a fourth SAP Open remained on track in San Jose as the American won a serving shoot-out with Tomas Berdych.

There were no breaks of serve in the contest between the former world number one, the winner in 2004, 2005 and 2008, and Czech player Berdych, as Roddick prevailed 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/5) to reach the semi-finals.

Roddick will meet compatriot Sam Querrey in the last four after the seventh seed defeated Michael Russell.

Querrey won 6-4 6-3 in one hour six minutes.

The second semi-final will see Fernando Verdasco play Denis Istomin.

Verdasco, the second seed from Spain, recorded a 6-3 7-6 (7/5) win over Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis in the last eight.

Uzbekistan’s Istomin, meanwhile, was a 6-1 1-6 6-3 victor over German sixth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber.

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Fourth seed Tommy Haas raced through a tight first-round encounter at the SAP Open in San Jose.

Germany’s Haas claimed a 6-4 7-6 (7/3) win over wild card Devin Britton in one hour 13 minutes.

Sixth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany prevailed in three sets over American Rajeev Ram, winning 6-7 (7/9) 6-1 6-3.

Sam Querrey, the seventh seed, saw off Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-3 6-2 in just under 55 minutes.

Eighth seed Jeremy Chardy of France was beaten 6-3 6-1 by Bjorn Phau of Germany, Robby Ginepri lost 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 6-3 to qualifier Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania.

Benjamin Becker of Germany beat qualifier Tim Smyczek of America 6-4 6-2 and Michael Russell of America beat South Korea’s Im Kyu-Tae 7-6 (7/6) 6-1.

Im was a late replacement for Mardy Fish, who withdrew with a left knee injury.

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Fifth seeded American Sam Querrey took an early exit at the Medibank International tennis event, a final Australian Open tune-up.

Querrey, coming off a 2009 that saw him win an event in Los Angeles, was beaten by Evgeny Korolev of Kazakhstan, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, in a first-round encounter on Tuesday.

Sixth seed Viktor Troicki and No. 8 seed Benjamin Becker were both opening- round victors. Troicki of Serbia and Becker of Germany played on outside courts and were straight-set winners. Troicki beat France’s Florent Serra, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; and Becker dispatched Argentine qualifier Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-3, 6-3.

American Mardy Fish won his first-round match, beating Aussie wild card Carsten Ball, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) at Ken Rosewall Arena. Fish faces Korolev next.

In one other early match Tuesday, Frenchman Julien Benneteau upended Dudi Sela of Israel, 6-3, 6-1.

Fourth-seeded Aussie icon Lleyton Hewitt, a four-time winner of this event who won here back-to-back twice (2000-01, 2004-05), will face Italian Andreas Seppi in a second-round match on Wednesday.

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Sam Querrey needed surgery after badly cutting his right arm when he fell through a glass table in Bangkok.

The American world number 25, broke the table when he sat on it following a practice session at the Thailand Open.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said he is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks, effectively ending his season.

Californian Querrey, 21, who was seeded third for the ATP Tour event, said on his Twitter feed: “Worst day ever.”

He had enjoyed a good season prior to the accident, winning the Los Angeles Open in August and reaching the ATP Hall of Fame Championship final in Rhode Island in July.

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Fernando Verdasco won the Pilot Pen tournament with a straight-sets victory over Sam Querrey in the final in New Haven.

The second seed saw off his American opponent 6-4 7-6 (8/6) in one hour 35 minutes.

The Spaniard’s serve, in particular his second serve, underpinned his success. He won 68% of points on his second serve in contrast to Querrey’s 43%.

The final was both players’ second match of the day after their semi-finals were postponed because of heavy rain.

This is also the Spaniard’s third career title and he’s the first player from Spain to win the title in New Haven.

“A lot of times I said that this tournament had been special for me because last year, semi finals, the year before quarterfinals, or I think the two years before; I was hoping to win it one time,” Verdasco said. “Also the people treat me unbelievable here, and the tournament director, and also all the girls from the player services, all the people around.”

“So all that makes me feel so happy playing the tournament, no, and so comfortable. I think for me it was special always to play here and win this title, this tournament. This year is gonna be now even more special, for sure.”

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