Shotmaking: Roger Federer d. John Isner

In our Shotmaking series, Anita Aguilar will provide the photos and Steve Tignor will provide the captions. Together, they'll tell the story of a match at the U.S. Open.

In his first three matches, Isner won 81 percent of his first-serve points; against Federer he won 68 percent. Federer’s reactions were sharp all night. “I’m very pleased,” he said, “because I knew the toughness of this matchup.”

Still, it can’t be easy facing this delivery from on high. You might feel as if someone was serving from the fifth row.

Isner held his own in each set, but couldn’t match Federer, or his free-flowing style, in the tiebreakers.

Isner went for broke and powered forward whenever he could...

...but the 6’10” American struggles, not surprisingly, with low volleys. “He was too good,” Isner said of Federer. “That’s what I was up against. There’s nothing you can do about that.”

Which direction is Federer going to hit this ball, exactly?

Federer at full extension.

On second thought, maybe this is full extension.

Even a blown volley and a lost point brought a smile to his face on this evening. “I think the first-set tiebreaker,” Federer said of blanking Isner 7-0, “when you win a tiebreak 7-love, things have to go your way.”

Some things really do get above Isner’s head.

Federer as he saw Isner’s last volley drift wide on match point for a 7-6(0), 7-6(6), 7-5 win.

As happy as he was, though, he said he could have been happier. “To win three tiebreakers against John,” he said, “would have been a better feeling than breaking him. I don’t know if it makes sense for you, but for me it does.”

However this one ended, Federer goes forward feeling good. “I come into now sort of the business end of the tournament,” he said, “with a good mindset and a good body.”