BREAKOUT
American ace reaches third round but quest is to go longer in Grand Slam event
WIMBLEDON, England – John Isner cracked up laughing when asked after his second-round win Thursday if he could reflect upon the possibility of playing good friend and fellow American Sam Querrey in the Wimbledon semifinals.
“Isn’t Roger (Federer) in the draw?” asked ninth-seeded Isner, smiling, while pointing out the eight-time Wimbledon champion happens to be in the same half.
Isner was in a good mood after finish- ing off his rain-delayed encounter against Belgian Ruben Bemelmans 6-1,
6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-7 (3-7), 7-5. The 3-hour,
46-minute match was halted Wednesday night with Isner about to serve at
3-4 in the final set.
For Isner, there was more reason to be cautious regarding Wimbledon than just the fact that Federer was lurking.
Even though 6-foot-10 Isner possesses one of the biggest serves in the game — he served 64 aces against Bemelmans — he’s had the least amount of luck at Wimbledon than at any of the other three Grand Slam tournaments. This is his 10th outing here, and his best result is the third round on four occasions, including this year.
His best showing at a Grand Slam was a quarterfinal in the 2011 U.S. Open.
Although bombing serves can be a natural advantage on grass, Isner has neutralized that weapon by getting embroiled in too many marathon matches at Wimbledon. He’s played 26 five-set matches (he’s 9-17), and six have been here. Of those six, he’s won twice, which included the victory vs. Bemelmans.
“I’ve gotten involved in long matches here,” Isner said. “A lot of them have not gone my way. I think today was very relieving, sort of a monkey off my back. So to finally come through on the good side of that feels amazing.”
It is his other five-set victory here against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the first round in 2010 that will keep Isner’s name historically important forever.
The two would play across three days the longest match recorded. Isner won
6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-3), 70-68 on a fifth match point. The encounter lasted
11 hours, 5 minutes, featured 183 games and provided Isner with the Wimbledon record for aces served in a match at 113.
To commemorate the landmark outing, a plaque is permanently affixed to the south wall of Court No. 18 where this history was achieved.
“I saw the plaque this morning walking to practice,” Isner said. “I didn’t stop and stare at it by any means. I have walked past it countless times.
“That match we played eight years ago was such a big event. I remember the World Cup was going on, as it is now, and it (our match) was stealing headlines from the World Cup. It was such a crazy match that the whole world was captivated by it. I’m not exaggerating.”
Isner understands that in terms of the casual sports fan his identity will always be tied to that extraordinary match. But while it remains a great memory for him, he naturally has moved on to living in the present.
His current concern is to get a good night’s sleep after the fitful evening he had awaiting the conclusion of the match against Bemelmans. He hopes to be refreshed when he plays Radu Albot of Moldova in the third round.
“I have, of course, been in this situation before where the match was not finished, and I’m not just talking about 2010,” he said. “I certainly didn’t sleep like a baby last night. When you’re up two sets and 4-0 in the third-set tie- breaker and you let that slip through, it’s tough. A lot of stuff goes through your head. Fortunately I didn’t feel tired.”
A few practice sleepless nights might not be a bad idea considering Isner and his wife, Madi, are expecting their first child, a daughter, at the end of September. The couple were married in December and live in her hometown of Dallas.
“Whenever it comes, it’s going to be a blessing,” Isner said. “We’re going to have a lot of help, which helps. My inlaws, her parents, are amazing. And then my family is awesome, as well. This kid is going to have a lot of love, that’s for sure.”
Although Isner didn’t want to predict whether he’ll break his third-round curse on Friday, he willingly offered a prediction about fatherhood. “I told Madi I think we’re going to have four girls,” he said, smiling. “I feel it.”
And he even has a tennis goal for those anticipated daughters, saying, “Two-handed (backhand) and hopefully a better backhand than mine.”