Isner beats Harrison again, wins Atlanta title–again

“Not one, not two, not three, not four….”

As BB&T Atlanta Open tournament director Eddie Gonzalez noted on the court, that was what LeBron James had to say about NBA titles the Miami Heat would win after he signed with the team in 2010. LeBron did not quite deliver on that promise. John Isner has delivered that, and more, in Atlanta.

Maintaining dominance at his favorite event on the ATP calendar, Isner defeated Ryan Harrison in a second straight Atlanta final to capture his fifth Atlanta title via a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory on Sunday evening. The 6’10” American was playing in his eighth Atlanta final in nine years of the tournament’s existence.

“It’s incredible,” Isner said of his numbers in Atlanta, which include a 31-4 lifetime record. “I think I said it last year–I felt like there may come a time when I’m not back in the finals or I’m not the champion again. But as it stands right now, I’m very happy to be the champ here. Look, I’m very comfortable here. It really feels like I’m at home; that helps so much.”

Harrison was almost the champion this time around, just he was last summer in a 7-6(6), 7-6(7) loss to his good friend and countryman. The world No. 53 broke Isner at 5-5 in the opening set and had the top seed on the ropes early in the second, with three break points at 1-1 and another at 2-2. But Isner snuffed them out without giving Harrison a chance, saving one with a service winner, two with inside-out forehand winners, and the fourth with a drop-volley winner.

“Without a doubt, I think if he were to get one of those, I don’t think I’d be standing here the winner,” Isner admitted. “So I realize I was fortunate today. But that’s how tennis goes. It’s a weird game. I’ve been on the other end of that where you have four to five chances to put your stamp on the match.”

Isner took his own chances thereafter. Clearly finding a second wind in the energy department following his early-second set escape, the world No. 9 broke for the first time in the very next game–seizing a 4-2 advantage. That allowed Isner to force in decisive third, in which he took control right away with a forehand winner for a break in the opening game.

It was all over from there for Harrison, who could not even push Isner to deuce during any return game in the final set. A love hold at 5-4 wrapped it up in style for the former University of Georgia tennis legend.

“I didn’t feel like I was in a lot of return games today, but the ones that I did sink my teeth into, I took advantage of,” Isner explained. “On break point in the third set I hit the best shot I hit all match, that forehand inside out on the line. I think in the other matches prior to the final I was in a lot more return games, but I just took advantage of my opportunities today.”

That’s exactly what Isner has been doing for the last nine years in Atlanta. Inevitably, he will make a 10th appearance in 2019.

“I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t be back here,” he assured. “I’ve played this now nine years in a row. So make it 10. Why not?”

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