As proof that the tallest final in ATP history doesn’t also have to be the most boring
In their introductory segments to the Atlanta final yesterday, the commentators at ESPN mentioned that breaks would be extremely rare and points would be extremely short between 6’10” John Isner and 6’8” Kevin Anderson. I agreed about the breaks, but I wasn’t sure about the points. While neither man loves to grind, they’re both baseliners at heart. And while the length of the match and its scores—three sets, three tiebreakers—were entirely predictable, the points and games were not as brutal as advertised.
Most prominently on display was Isner’s brinksmanship—as long as the matches are two out of three, and played in the southern United States, he knows how to win the close ones. Anderson had 11 break points, two of which were match points at 5-6 in the third set, and he was the better player overall, but he still went home a loser. The biggest reason was Isner’s serve, of course; he hit 24 aces and came up with a 143 M.P.H. service winner to save the first match point. But this time it was also because of his return—one return in particular. On the first point of the third-set tiebreaker, Isner took a big step to his left as Anderson tossed the ball for a second serve. Isner guessed well: The ball, which Anderson aimed at Isner’s left hip, ended up in his forehand strike zone instead. The American redirected his return down the line and completely surprised Anderson, who hit a backhand into the net. Isner had his mini-break, and after two good service points to go up 3-0, he had the match in his grasp.
“I lived on the edge all week,” Isner said afterward, "and seemed to come through each and every time. It’s very encouraging.”
Isner remains the Big Enigma, and no one should start thinking this means much for him at the U.S. Open—it might even be the start of a long, tiring summer that leaves him with little left by the time he gets to Flushing Meadows. Which means you should enjoy the clutch version of him while he's still around.