John Isner, who has a 28-10 record on U.S. soil this season, says he plays better at home than anywhere else. Isner won Atlanta and reached finals in Cincinnati and Washington D.C. this summer. Isner was winless against Top 10 players this season before beating three Top 10 players in a row—Milos Raonic, Novak Djokovic, and Juan Martin del Potro—to reach the Cincinnati final, where he lost to Rafael Nadal.
“I'm just comfortable in the U.S.,” Isner told reporters. “It's something I need to improve on. Really sort of saved my season the last four years every time the summer rolls around in the States. I'm probably always going to play my best tennis in the States, but I can always improve over in Europe. One thing is these are surfaces I'm comfortable on, but also the support that I have from the fans and whatnot. What it all comes down to is me being comfortable. I think that's the main key."
Isner also says he never imagined himself in the role of the leading American player. With his run to the final of Cincinnati, Isner is now ranked No. 14, fifteen spots ahead of the next highest ranked American, Sam Querrey.
"I never felt like I was a guy who was going to carry American tennis at all," Isner said. "The fact that I ever even made it to the top ranked American is a huge surprise for me, and I feel very proud that I can say that. I'm just worried about myself and trying to play this sport as long as I can, because I realize I'm in a very fortunate position to do what I do. So I want to do it as long as possible."