By Scoop Malinowski
If the state of American tennis was on the upsurge after several years of mediocre results, the results of the Miami Open affirmed the speculation.
John Isner played the match of his life and won the biggest title of his eleven year career. Isner stunned Alexander Zverev 67 64 64 to win the Miami Open, his first Masters 1000 title after three previous 100 finals in Cincy, Indian Wells and Paris.
Sloane Stephens captured the women’s singles title with a dominant 76 61 win over Jelena Ostapenko. The Bryan Brothers won the doubles vs Khachanov/Rublev and Coco Vandeweghe teamed with Australian Ash Barty to win the women’s doubles 62 61, in the final match played at Crandon Park which will be demolished later this year.
Isner entered the Miami Open having won only one single ATP main tour singles match all year and found himself in desperate struggle in the first round with Jiri Vesely. Isner appeared to be fading after losing the second set and leaving the court for physical help. But a few timely shouts from the crowd in the early stages of the third set seemed to give Isner a desperately needed spark. “Let’s go Bulldog,” “Cmon Georgia”, “Let’s go Big John” and rejuvenated play from the baseline helped lead Isner to the win in which he said after that he didn’t serve particularly well, which is a good thing, because once the vaunted Isner serve gets going, even the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic can be made to feel helpless on the court.
Isner rolled through Mikhail Youzhny, then Marin Cilic and Juan Martin Del Potro in the semifinal 61 76.
World no. 5 Zverev did just about everything right to win the match – and his third Masters 1000 title but Isner was simply too tough. 0-3 career vs Zverev, Isner had to earn the win by showing a grit and tenacity he had not shown in a long time. Isner botched a break point early in the third set and then three more with Zverev serving at 2-2, down love-40. Isner refused to wilt despite the blown opportunities. He finally broke Zverev for 5-4, which enraged the German who smashed his Head racquet into the court twice.
Isner would not waste any more chances. Serving for the championship, Isner closed the show with three straight aces for the hard-fought but career defining win, in two hours and twenty-nine minutes. Isner totaled eighteen aces for the afternoon.
Isner’s on court character seemed to undergo a slight change during the emotional, tightly-contested match, one of the best finals in Miami Open history. At one point, Isner even exhibited a Jimmy Connors like US Open intensity, rousing the packed stadium with Jimbo-esque finger points to the crowd which stirred up a frenzy. TV replays after some of the most dramatic points showed grown men in the crowd caught up in the euphoria, finger pointing back to the towering American. A new American tennis hero star may have been born.
It was electrifying drama, the kind of which the normally mechanical Isner rarely has shown in the past. This week Isner told me in an interview in the mixed zone an interesting comment about how important crowd support is for him as a player. “To have adrenaline coursing through your veins…anything is possible.”
This week, Isner found the key to making “emotional adrenaline” work in his favor and the longshot, no-hoper shocked the tennis world and reminded us all that “anything is possible.”
“I couldn’t have scripted this,” Isner said to Brad Gilbert of ESPN during the post-match interview. “I came into this tournament, I won one ATP match all year and was playing very poorly. I won my first match in three sets and that’s how tennis goes — you start to gain a little confidence and next thing you know things start to roll your way.”
In danger of losing to Vesely in his first match here, Isner now has pocketed the biggest title of his career and a cool $1.3 million.
Chazz · April 2, 2018 at 10:33 am
It’s pretty crazy his biggest win comes when he’s 32. Then again, he generally doesn’t have to put as much energy into points as others and he can probably play at a high level until age 40 because of it. That 3rd set was dramatic and fun to see.
Scoop Malinowski · April 2, 2018 at 11:39 am
Superb match Chazz, I disagree, Isner has to work hard but he’s in top shape and can handle those physically demanding points. Cahill implied that Isner and Delpo like to slow walk around the court as if they are fatigued but they could be using trickery deception. Isner looked tired late in the first set but said he got his “second wind.” Second wind is an old time sports term that isn’t used match any more. Astounding win by Isner and it will be interesting to see where he goes to from here.
Duke Carnoustie · April 2, 2018 at 12:10 pm
I agree with Chazz. I think Isner can play up to age 40 since his body has less wear and tear with quick points. I don’t think he has missed much time on tour so he has proven to be durable.
All of a sudden, Americans are now the class of the tennis world. No country is as strong with men and women combined. It’s hard to believe.
I admit I was wrong and the U.S. will crush Belgium. This time, I’m not waffling on that prediction.
Scoop Malinowski · April 2, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Would be a neat trick if Isner can last that long but Dr Ivo is doing it so why not? Isner does play longer and more physical points than the more attack-minded Karlovic but Isner is the kind of player that defies logic and the norm and I suppose he will continue to do so.
Chazz · April 2, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Wow, Opelka just got blasted by Blaz Rola in Panama City, 6-3, 6-1. Things not going well for the giant right now.
Scoop Malinowski · April 2, 2018 at 5:23 pm
Rola is good. Saw him beat Kozlov in Sarasota last year and he beat young Korda also 61 62. A good player with a poor ranking. Opelka looked so good vs Sock in Delray but has done nothing since losing to Gojo.