Death, taxes, and John Isner vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round of the U.S. Open.
These days, the latter really does seem like the third certainty of life. For the third consecutive year, Isner and Kohlschreiber will go head-to-head in the third round at the season’s final Grand Slam. The two veterans had absolutely no trouble re-booking the showdown on Thursday, with Kohlschreiber getting a retirement from Michael Llodra before Isner hammered Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2..
The 6’10” American enjoyed a ridiculous serving day, even by his standards. He blasted 30 aces compared to just one double-fault while putting in an awesome 73 percent of his first deliveries.
“Really the conditions were perfect,” the host nation’s top player explained. “Wasn’t humid like it was yesterday; wasn’t hot. Really the match turned at that 4-all game in the second set. I finally was able to break through and I kind of broke the match wide open. I did what I have done a lot of times. Winning a tiebreaker in the first set; I won that and it gave me some momentum. I was able to take it in straight sets after that.”
When asked about the problem of Kohlschreiber, to whom Isner has lost in each of the past two U.S. Opens, the No. 13 seed responded, “I wouldn’t really call it a problem. I have beaten him more times than he’s beaten me overall. But he’s beaten me here. No matter where I play him, I know the match is going to be tough because he’s an extremely good player. Very good. I thought our matches the last two years have been pretty high-quality. I remember last year I wasn’t disappointed with how I played. He just played better than me. Simple as that. In a few days’ time I’m just gonna have to try to be better than him.”
Only three American men advanced past the first round this week, but all three are still alive following the first full day of second-round action. Sam Querrey joined Isner in the last 32, while Tim Smyczek hopes to do the same on Friday.
Querrey also took his match in straights with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 demolition of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The world No. 57 also beat Garcia-Lopez last week in the Winston-Salem quarterfinals.
“Yeah,” Querrey answered when asked if that was the best he has played all year. “(I) usually play better as the tournament goes on. I felt like I played great today; serve felt good, forehand felt good. I was making the right decisions. (I) hope I can keep playing like that.”
He will have to, because next up for him on Saturday is world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
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