Something will have to give in a surprising but intriguing Miami Open final, because both Alexander Zverev and John Isner are absolutely on fire heading into Sunday’s showdown.
Their reward for such scorching-hot form is a fourth career head-to-head contest and participation in the closing match at Crandon Park before the Masters 1000 tournament moves away from Key Biscayne next year. Zverev is sweeping the series 3-0, including 2-0 on hard courts. The German prevailed 6-4, 6-2 at the 2016 Shanghai Masters, 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-6(5) during third-round action last season in Miami, and 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 shortly thereafter in Rome.
There seemed to be little chance that these two Saddlebrook training mates and one-time doubles partners (2016 Toronto Masters) would meet again in Miami when they landed on opposite sides of the draw. After all, nothing suggested Isner–especially–would make a run to the championship match. The 6’10” American had been a mere 2-6 in 2018 prior to this fortnight, but he has suddenly reeled off victories over Jiri Vesely, Mikhail Youzhny, Marin Cilic, Hyeon Chung, and Indian Wells champion Juan Martin Del Potro. Isner has won nine consecutive sets and put on an especially stunning display while beating an understandably tired Del Potro 6-1, 7-6(2) on Friday.
“Things are just clicking,” the world No. 17 assured. “If I’m returning well and getting in return games, that should bode well for me given how I serve. (I’m) very happy it’s all sort of coming together right now…. I just know with my game, if I’m doing the right things, it doesn’t really matter who I’m playing; I’m going to be very tough to beat.”
Nobody has come close to beating Zverev since he was pushed to three sets by Daniil Medvedev and David Ferrer much earlier in the event. Miami’s No. 4 seed promptly raised his level to defeat Nick Kyrgios, Borna Coric, and Pablo Carreno Busta, and his last eight sets have resulted in scorelines of 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2.
Zverev, who is now 13-4 for his 2018 campaign, is one win away from a third career Masters 1000 title–having triumphed last season in Rome and Montreal. He is also 6-3 lifetime in ATP finals, including a 5-1 record in 2017. Isner, on the other hand, is 0-3 in Masters 1000 finals and 0-7 in finals above the 250-point level (12-5 in 250-point finals). Granted, his Masters 1000 final losses have come at the hands of Roger Federer (2012 in Indian Wells), Rafael Nadal (2013 in Cincinnati), and Andy Murray (2016 in Paris). It may get a little bit easier–but not by much–against Zverev.
“Sascha, I mean, he’s the best young player this game has,” Isner praised.
In what is likely to be a competitive, high-quality encounter, Zverev’s confidence from his past Masters 1000 success and his 3-0 record against Isner may be the difference.
Pick: Zverev in 3
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