John Isner is a five-time champion of the BB&T Atlanta Open with titles in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. He has been in the final six straight times and eight overall and has never lost prior to the semifinals.
But his 2019 campaign is in obvious danger right off the bat, as familiar foe Reilly Opelka stands in Isner’s way during second-round action on Wednesday. Opelka is 2-0 in the head-to-head series between the two big-serving giants this season, with a 7-6(4), 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 7-6(5) victory at the Australian Open and a 6-7(8), 7-6(14), 7-6(4) success on the indoor hard courts of New York. Isner had won their only previous encounter 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2 at this same Atlanta tournament in the 2016 semis.
Opelka’s week got started on Tuesday with a 6-3, 7-6(1) defeat of the other Newport finalist, Alexander Bublik (Bublik lost to Isner in Sunday’s title match to wrap up the grass-court swing). The 6’11” American has earned 15 ATP-level match victories this year, including two–one at Stan Wawrinka’s expense–en route to the Wimbledon third round.
“This is John’s tournament,” Opelka commented following his win over Bublik. “It’s pretty much impossible to beat him.”
Isner disagrees.
“It could actually be a coin flip,” he said of facing Opelka.
Against anyone else, it is almost never a 50-50 proposition for Isner in Atlanta. The 6’10” American is 31-4 lifetime with losses only to Mardy Fish (twice), Andy Roddick, and Nick Kyrgios. He is set up well for another run after capturing a fourth Newport title last weekend. A stress fracture in his foot had kept Isner out for three months prior to the grass stretch, which also included a second-round performance at Wimbledon.
This obviously could go either way, but the No. 1 seed’s confidence has been restored and as Opelka suggests it is basically impossible to pick against him in Atlanta.
Pick: Isner in 3
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Will be very close and hard fought….but The Big Dawg in 2.