John Isner’s Last Singles Tournament Ends in Defeat at US Open

Isner volleyed into the net to end the match and what he had announced would be his last singles tournament. He was defeated 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(7) in the second round of the US Open by fellow American Michael Mmoh.

“It’s hard. I’d like to think I worked as hard as I could,” Isner said, barely containing his emotions as the crowd cheered.

Aged 38, Isner took advantage of a pass from the organizers to participate in the main draw of the tournament. He hit 48 aces and won 86% of the points contested on his first serve. He also committed 63 unforced errors.

Isner reached a career-high No. 8 in the world in 2018, shortly after he made the semi-finals at Wimbledon. He won 16 singles titles and hit over 14,000 aces, setting the ATP record. He notably hit 113 in the longest match in tennis history, a first round duel at Wimbledon against Nicolas Mahut in 2010 that lasted 11 hours 5 minutes and ended 70-68 in the fifth set.

In the next round, Mmoh will face Jack Draper, who caused an upset by beating Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 7-5. Draper, a 21-year-old Briton, returned to action in August after a two-month absence with a shoulder injury.

Against Hurkacz, he prevailed with good serves and good downfield play. For his part, the Pole seemed to lack energy and requested a doctor’s visit during the third set.

Hurkacz, seeded 17, was hoping for a good tournament after reaching the semi-finals in Cincinnati.

In the ladies, second seed Aryna Sabalenka easily beat Britain’s Jodie Burrage 6-2, 6-3 in just over an hour of play. In the third round, she will face France’s Clara Burel, who defeated Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2.

For her part, American Madison Keys, No. 17, also reached the third round thanks to an early victory of 6-1, 6-2 against Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

Elsewhere, Jannik Sinner reached the third round of the US Open with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

Sinner, seeded sixth, improved his career record against his compatriots to 10-0. He will be hoping for a long run in New York, having reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon earlier this summer and the quarter-finals at the US Open last year, losing in five sets to Carlos Alcarez after had a match point.

“I think my game continues to improve a bit, to develop,” said Sinner, who won 80% of the points contested on his first serve. Physically, I feel fine. We’ll see!”

Sinner, 22, also won 22 of 25 points when he came to the net.

12th seeded Alexander Zverev beat fellow German Daniel Altmaier 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. In the next round, he will face Grigor Dimitrov, No. 19, who defeated Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

Murray committed 45 unforced errors in the loss.

In the evening at the Arthur-Ashe stadium, Alcaraz had an appointment with the South African Lloyd Harris, quarter-finalist in 2021 in New York. Then, American Jessica Pegula, No. 3, faced Patricia Maria Tig.

2023-08-31 20:35:19
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