Isner rallies past Zverev to clinch first Miami title
key biscayne — John Isner delved deep into his energy tank to outlast Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 and claim the biggest title of his career at the Miami Open on Sunday.
The 32-year-old American was tiring noticeably in the second set but broke Zverev in the ninth game to go up 5-4.
The moment inspired Isner, who changed to a yellow shirt and won that set and the next for his first victory over world number five Zverev.
“I couldn’t have scripted this,” said the 14th seed in a courtside interview after winning every service game. “(When) I came into this tournament, I had won one ATP match all year and was playing very poorly,” said the big-serving Isner.
“I won my first match (here) in three sets and that’s how tennis goes — you start to gain a little confidence and the next thing you know things start to roll your way.”
The win enabled Isner to become the highest ranked American at number nine when the new world rankings were released on Monday.
He also is the first American man to win in Miami since Andy Roddick in 2010.
Isner, who had failed to win a match at five of his previous six main tour events in 2018, had never won an ATP Masters 1000 final before Sunday.
Zverev, 12 years Isner’s junior, saved three break points in the second game of the match and went on to take the tiebreker when he won four points in a row.
The second set went to 4-4 before Isner broke Zverev.
Now reenergised, the American saved two break points in the next game to take the set.
Despite failing to convert four break points at 2-2 in a tense third set, Isner broke Zverev at 5-4, the unhappy German breaking his racquet in disgust.
“I think I missed more shots today than I did the whole tournament,” Zverev said. —