Isner, Harrison, Sock making America great again at U.S. Open

To the surprise of nobody, John Isner and Jack Sock marched into the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday. The arrival of a third musketeer in the last 32 of the season’s major, however, was entirely unexpected. That would be none other than Ryan Harrison, who had to qualify just to get into the main draw and parlayed that success into upsets of Adrian Mannarino and–taking to a whole different level–Milos Raonic.

As for Isner, he had to stage a comeback from two sets down just to escape his first-rounder with a 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Frances Tiafoe. The world No. 21 made sure he would not receive of taste of his own medicine two days later. Despite seeing four match points evaporate with an opportunity to finish the job in straight sets, Isner recovered in the fourth to fend off Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(10), 6-4 in two hours and 54 minutes.

A decisive service break came at 4-4 in the fourth, after which Isner emphatically served out the match at love.

“I feel like I played pretty well,” Isner commented. “I had a handful of chances, and for the most part I took them in the first two sets. Third set, (I) probably would have liked to have had that back. Serving at 6-4 in the tiebreaker, (I) lost that point, went into a bit after shell, (and) did not play aggressively from that point forward in that tiebreaker. Getting off in four sets, I was very happy.”

The 6’10” American needed five against Tiafoe in a nail-biting battle during which the 18-year-old underdog had the fans on his side from start to finish. Going up against a Belgian this time around, Isner enjoyed all of the crowd support.

“I would say the U.S. Open,” he answered when asked about his second favorite place to play behind Athens, Georgia (where he attended college). “Here, having the fans on your side, it’s very important. This place is awesome.”

It was certainly awesome for Harrison on Wednesday. The world No. 120 benefited from a hobbled Raonic to pull off a 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-5, 6-1 shocker over the world No. 6. Plagued by a wrist issue but to an even greater extent leg cramps, Raonic struggled throughout the third set was reduced to little more than an innocent bystander in the fourth.

Even with the Wimbledon runner-up at 100 percent, though, Harrison turned the first two sets into an even contest. After dropping the opener in a tiebreaker, the 24-year-old qualifier broke serve twice in the second–including at 6-5 when he won the last three points to take the set.

Raonic briefly persevered through his physical problems for a quick break in the third, but it was just about all over for him when he gave it back at 4-3.

“It was a really important game at 4-3 there, to break back and give myself a chance,” Harrison noted. “All I was thinking once I got to the third set was I really want to make this feel like a long way back for him. If he’s not already feeling physically good, I want it to be a long way back.”

It proved to be far too long for Raonic, so it is Harrison joining the parade of Americans in the win column during the early stages of their favorite slam. In addition to the exploits of Isner, Harrison, and Sock (who crushed Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in round two), Jared Donaldson stunned David Goffin on Tuesday and Steve Johnson fought off six match points to score a hard-to-believe comeback from two sets down at the expense of Evgeny Donskoy.

“It’s cool,” Harrison explained. “John, Jared, Jack, and I, and Stevie, we’re all within five feet of each other’s locker. We’ve been able to feel the excitement. I saw Johnson this morning when he walked in. You’re smiling for him, happy for him. Isner was the first person I saw when I walked in the locker room (after beating Raonic). He’s excited for me. That’s the good thing about all of us guys that are playing for America right now. We all have pretty good relationships.

“I think the winning does become contagious. It’s something where someone achieves something or someone that you’re close to has a big win. You think it’s a lot more achievable for you. I certainly have a big belief that we’re all able to continue winning. I don’t think that we’re done right now.”

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