Isner earns biggest win, beating Zverev in Miami Open final
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — 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 champions were Roddick and Serena Williams.
The start of the last game was delayed by the crowd’s chants of “U-SA!” 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.”