John Isner Wins Close in Atlanta
John Isner pulled out a close victory over Gilles Muller at the Atlanta Tennis Championship on Wednesday. Isner won on a final set tie break, with the final score at 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6(7). Heading into the tournament, Isner was ranked 19th in the world, and owns the tournaments second seed, one behind fellow countryman Andy Roddick.
John Isner
Isner played his college tennis at the University of Georgia and turned pro in 2007. The hulking six-foot-nine youngster entered the fray ranked 889th in the world. However, after a successful performance at the Legg Manson Tennis Classic, in which he finished runner up to Roddick, his ranking was raised to 193rd. That same year, he took part in his first ever US Open, making it to the third round before he was defeated by eventual tournament champion Roger Federer. Isner did not go down lightly however, using his powerful serve to ace Federer 18 times.
In 2008, Isner enjoyed a successful ATP Tour, which helped him push his ranking up to 93rd in the world. The new found success brought about automatic births for the first time to both the French open and Wimbledon.
Thus far, Isner has enjoyed a very successful 2010, but the most memorable moment of his career came at this year’s Wimbledon when he defeated Nicolas Mahut, in a grueling three-day long match that lasted over 180 games.
Recap
The first set was won fairly easily by Muller, who seemed to have the best of the large American on the day.
The second set was incredibly hard fought, with Muller owning the lead for the majority of the set and tie break. Isner was forced to save a tie break point with a beautiful backhand to even the score at 6-6.
The third set was once again a struggle as both men poured everything they had into the final set of the match. Isner once again found himself coming from behind at 6-7. He smashed a perfect ace, to keep the match going. He was able to curtail that into further success and came away with the victory.
The former Georgia University Bulldog used the energy of the home town fans to help fuel him through a very difficult and hard fought match with the unranked Luxembourg player.
Isner had this to say of the effect of the crowd on his game: “I was able to play well when I needed to early in the second set, and the crowd would pump me up when I’d get down 15-40...I just didn’t want to let them down. I didn’t want to lose my first match here.”
Isner’s win helps him to improve upon an already stellar 2010 ATP Tour record that sees him with the best record in tie breaks at 25-15. In addition, the big American has set the benchmark for aces this season adding 33 more to increase his total to 705, leading the ATP Tour.
However, throughout his career, he has had a difficult time returning serves and last night was no exception as the tall left-handed Muller gave Isner fits on the return.
Isner had this to say of Muller’s service performance: “He was obviously hitting his spots very well...being tall like he is and a left hander, everyone hates trying to return that serve. The one out wide, the slider, but it wasn’t that I was giving it to him. He was just hitting his spots.”
Isner now moves on to play Michael Russell in the quarter-finals. Russell is coming off of a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over German Rainer Schuettler.
Isner joins fellow Americans Roddick and Mardy Fish in the quarter- final round in the Atlanta Tennis Championship.
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