Isner stuns Zverev in final
John Isner punctuated his unexpected run to the Miami Open title with a surprising display of agility, dancing across the court while basking in a breakthrough.
The 6-foot-10 Isner looked twice as tall skipping about with a grin brighter than the Florida sunshine. He had just won the biggest title of his 14-year career, holding every service game and rallying past Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday.
Isner, who turns 33 this month, previously had been 0-3 in ATP Masters 1000 finals.
“You can’t replicate moments like this,” Isner said during the trophy ceremony. “I’m toward the latter part of my career; this is the best moment of my career.”
Isner’s win came in the last singles match on Key Biscayne before the Miami Open moves next year to the NFL Dolphins’ stadium.
Seeded 14th, Isner became the first American man to win the tournament since Andy Roddick in 2010. Isner joined Sloane Stephens , who won the women’s title Saturday, for the first U.S. sweep in the event since 2004, when the cham-
pions were Roddick and Serena Williams.
The start of the last game was delayed by the crowd’s chants of “U-S-A!” Isner then held at love, and on the final three points he smacked aces, giving him 18 for the match and 79 for the tournament.
“I was just ready for this moment,” he said. “I’ve been here three other times, and I’ve lost
three times on this stage. I was just ready for it.”
Isner is best known as tennis’ marathon man thanks to his 70-68 fifth-set victory over Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010. He possesses perhaps the game’s biggest serve but has never reached a Grand Slam semifinal, largely because a lack of mobility makes it difficult for him to stay in rallies. /
Last week was painful. To come here this week, I was tired. I was frustrated on Thursday . ... I was patient. I waited my time. And this is amazing.
IAN POULTER, who learned last week his ranking wasn’t enough to make it to the Masters.