John Isner reached the Western & Southern Open final last summer, but there will be no repeat performance in 2014. In fact, no American man will play for the title this time around. That much was guaranteed on Thursday, when the host nation’s last two hopes in Isner and Steve Johnson both went down in third-set tiebreakers.
Isner had a chance to finish off what would have been an upset win over Andy Murray prior to their decisive ‘breaker, but he missed two match points with the Scot serving at 5-6 in the third. The 6’10” American eventually succumbed 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(2).
“It was a tough match; one I could have won, but one I easily could have lost,” Isner reflected. “That’s what happened. I had two match points and didn’t capitalize, but I thought I played those points the right way. So there’s really no regrets. I thought I played pretty well and I thought he played well. He was better at the end.”
Still, Isner was able to appreciate a great atmosphere on the Grandstand and the fact that he is playing well heading into Winston-Salem (his real hometown event) and the U.S. Open.
“I feel like I did for the most part I did everything I wanted to do out there,” he commented. “I fought hard and I competed well. Maybe tomorrow I’ll look back on it to give me some confidence. I’m playing well and I’m feeling good.
“Standing room only,” Isner said of the fans. “You could see people on center court at the top looking over and watching. It was great. The fans were unbelievable. I thought they were on my side the whole way. I wish I could have won for them, but at the same time it was so much fun. I enjoyed it. The atmosphere was awesome.”
Johnson also nearly pulled off a surprise in his 6-7(7), 6-3, 7-6(4) loss to Milos Raonic. The American withstood 30 aces off the Raonic racket and also benefited from eight double-faults, three of which came when the Canadian failed to serve out the match at 5-4. Johnson briefly led 4-3 with a mini-break in the tiebreaker, but Raonic took the final four points.
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