John Isner improved to 24-4 lifetime at the BB&T Atlanta Open with a routine 6-3, 6-4 victory over Vasek Pospisil during second-round action on Wednesday night. Isner, a three-time champion of the tournament and three-time runner-up, fired 10 aces and did not face a single break point while advancing in one hour and seven minutes.
Fresh off a title on the grass courts of Newport, Isner took control of yet another match right from the start by breaking Pospisil for a 2-0 lead in the first set. It was all but over when the 6’10” American broke again at 2-2 in the second.
In a stretch that spanned from early in the first set to midway through the second, Isner won an incredible 26 service points in a row. He lost a mere four points total on serve in 10 games.
“I love coming back here,” Isner said. “I’ve said it a million times. I don’t think I need to give the reasons again, but I’m very comfortable here; enjoy playing. So I’m very fortunate that this tournament is here.”
Compatriot Tommy Paul joined Isner in the quarterfinals, as did Lukas Lacko and Wimbledon quarterfinalist Gilles Muller.
In this tournament alone, Paul has already doubled his entire previous ATP-level win total. With just one coming in, Paul picked up his second of the week by upsetting Malek Jaziri 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 after two hours and 18 minutes.
In a back-and-forth affair, Paul promptly fell behind 3-1 in the third set after taking the second. But the 20-year-old American broke twice in succession to pull ahead 4-3 before another momentum swing seemed to be in the cards. In a 0-15 hole, Paul came up with a diving backhand volley winner and eventually held to 30 thanks to flurry of well-constructed points.
“That was a good game,” the world No. 291 reflected. “It was big. I think I had a sloppy point on the first point and I was like, ‘Come on, man. You can’t give away free points in this game.’ Then I really feel like I zoned in and played a couple of really good points.”
Jaziri, who was coming off a three-setter against Reilly Opelka in which he saved eight match points, wilted thereafter. Paul earned a third consecutive break to wrap things up in style.
“It’s definitely a good feeling,” Paul assured. “When I won the match I was pretty excited. It’s kind of crazy. At the beginning of the year I was playing Futures–I was playing Futures a month ago. Maybe I might end up playing Futures in a couple months, but right now I’m playing well. Hopefully I can keep it going and ride on this confidence.”
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Isner-Muller looking guaranteed
Isner played very well! Happy to see that
Serving stats are pretty impressive, return game looked good too.
yep, Isner’s return game has been on fire
(by his standards)
Holy shit I watched it live like at the tourney cuz I live in ATL. And Isner is returning SO WELL!! He destroyed Pospisil like it was insane. He legitimately wrecked him in all areas including his groundstrokes and returns. Just like that John’s confidence is back. Wins newports losing no sets and starts Atlanta with a highly impressive performance. Please keep this up John. With Djokovjc out and Murray struggling I want John to maybe take advantage at the Open.
lets not get carried away by wins of people like Ebden and Pospisil. But yes, he is playing well.
That is true lol. I’m really just hoping right now. I’ll start truly believing he can do something in NYC if he makes runs at the masters.