On wild day in Paris, Isner emerges as last American man standing

John Isner is the last American man standing at Roland Garros.

The world No. 17 trailed two sets to one to 79th-ranked Teymuraz Gabashvili on Friday, but he took the final two sets rather easily to earn a 7-6 (7), 4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win and book a spot in the fourth round of the French Open.

The big-serving 15th seed overpowered his Russian opponent with 34 aces.

The 6-foot-10 Isner appeared to be in serious trouble after dropping the third set. Not only was he trailing, but coming into the match he owned a dreadful 5-14 record in five-set matches.

Embed from Getty Images

The 31-year-old has now matched his best-ever result in Paris. (He reached the fourth round of the French Open back in 2014.) But now things will get awfully tricky for the big man. If Isner is to reach his second career major quarterfinal, he’ll have to get past world No. 2 Andy Murray. The Scot will be heavily favored in that match.

Coincidentally, the only time that Isner reached a quarterfinal at a Slam—at the U.S. Open back in 2011—his run was halted by Murray, who beat him in four sets.

Ten Americans were in the men’s main draw at Roland Garros, and at the start of play on Friday only two—Isner and Jack Sock—remained.

Sock, seeded 23rd, had a marathon match of his own. He wasn’t as fortunate as his countryman, falling 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to Albert Ramos-Vinolas in a surprising upset.

Had the 23-year-old beaten the Spaniard, two Americans would have made it to the fourth round of the French Open for the first time in 15 years, according to the Associated Press.

Embed from Getty Images

As for the American women, it was a rather fascinating day—for better and for worse.

Shelby Rogers, ranked 108th, got the day started right with a shocking three-set win over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

But hours later, 19th seed Sloane Stephens—who had made it to the fourth round of the French Open four years in a row—was drubbed by 102nd-ranked Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-2, 6-1, in just 50 minutes.