NEWPORT, RI — Fourth-seeded Maxime Cressy ended John Isner’s 10-game winning streak on the Newport grass courts, beating his fellow American 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday to qualify for the final of the Hall of Fame Open.

Cressy will face No. 3 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. Bublik beat Australian Jason Kubler 6-3, 6-2 in the other semi-final.

The matches were played before former Australian player Lleyton Hewitt was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in a ceremony on the side courts. Hewitt was elected into the Hall for the Class of 2021, but due to travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to travel for last year’s ceremony. There was no class elected for 2022.

In an Australian Open first-round rematch, in which Cressy rallied after two sets to beat four-time champion Newport, Cressy broke twice in the opening set.

“Personally, I like to do big favors,” he said. “I like it when the ball hits my racquet fast.”

But the weirdest point came when Cressy broke to come back 5-3 in the final set.

Cressy hit a lob and Isner, 37, charged the net, but the ball bounced off Cressy’s side before the 6-foot-10 Isner could reach it for the game’s final point.

Second-seeded Isner appeared somewhat shocked by the result, and there was a long buzz in the stands.

“It was definitely a weird feeling,” Cressy said. “I really didn’t believe I broke it in the moment, the ball was coming back my side. I was like, ‘Did I break it?’ When I heard that was the case, I couldn’t believe it. It was hard to move on and be really focused.”

Cressy trailed 15-40 in the last game before the one hour and 51 minute game ended when Isner barely got his racquet back on a forehand return as the ball bounced.

Cressy is looking to win his first career ATP title after entering the week ranked 41st in the world.

“My target for this season was to be in the top 10,” he said. “I really believe the momentum carries me that way.”

In the other semi-final, Bublik, 25, a Newport runner-up in 2019, is looking for his second career ATP title after winning in Montpellier this year.

“I think it’s great to play in any ATP Finals,” he said. “It’s good for history, for your own career.”