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Atlanta Final: The Isner vs Harrison Rivalry
20 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
Big John Isner continued his blazing form as he blasted through the third seed and ATP World No. 22 (career high) Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-2 in just 75 minutes to reach his seventh Atlanta final in the past eight years.
World No. 20 Isner earned his seventh consecutive win and once again did not drop serve, saving four break points againt the left-handed Luxembourg veteran. Isner, perhaps on the best streak of his ATP career which began in Washington in 2007, has held serve for 69 straight service games, dating back to his title run last week at the Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open in Newport.
Isner is itching to score his second straight ATP title and the eleventh of his career today vs. rival Ryan Harrison who needed three sets to take care of Brit Kyle Edmund. “It was a very good match. Absolutely nothing to complain about today,” said Isner. “On and off the court in pretty quick fashion and I certainly will be ready to go tomorrow (vs Harrison). I feel great physically, maybe the best I have felt in quite sometime. More importantly than that I am pretty confident as well.”
Isner, 32, will be gunning for his fourth Atlanta title on Sunday against Harrison who narrowly escaped his semifinal 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 with Edmund.
“He (Isner) is very comfortable playing here. I am too,” Harrison said. “It is going to be really important for me not to get discouraged whenever he is hammering aces left and right. It is going to happen. I know it is going to happen. I am going to create as many opportunities as I can and make sure I hold my service games.”
Harrison, who has previously reached the Atlanta semi-finals in 2011 and 2013, is 2-5 career vs. Isner though many of the duels have been very close encounters. World No. 42 Harrison, two notches below his career high achieved earlier this month, will be contesting in his first Atlanta final and the second title match of his career. The 25 year old Louisiana native won the Memphis Open in February (d. Basilashvili). Harrison also won the Roland Garros doubles title this year (with Venus).
Harrison won the last meeting with Isner in Canada last summer, and the last two meetings on hard court. But Isner has shown an ability to beat Harrison when the stakes were highest, including the five set win 8-6 in the fifth at Roland Garros in 2013 and a semifinal win vs Harrison in Newport five years ago.
2016 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada Outdoor Hard R32 Ryan Harrison 76(3) 67(4) 64
2013 Newport RI, U.S.A. Outdoor Grass R32 John Isner 76(0) 62
2013 Roland Garros France Outdoor Clay R64 John Isner 57 67(7) 63 61 86
2013 Houston TX, U.S.A. Outdoor Clay R32 John Isner 76(4) 64
2013 Sydney Australia Outdoor Hard R16 Ryan Harrison 64 64
2012 Newport RI, U.S.A. Outdoor Grass SF John Isner 76(4) 63
2010 Memphis TN, U.S.A. Indoor Hard R32 John Isner 61 75
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Scoop Malinowski · July 30, 2017 at 11:43 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
This is a great final, two players who are red hot right now and really determined to escalate their career momentums. Very hard to pick a winner but … I will pick Harrison in three.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 1:57 pm
Agree with Dan, Harrison’s run back to relevance has been riveting. And, that said, he still plays similarly to when he first hit the tour. He’s technically way better in every area. And, he still makes some scratch head mistakes, or employs more of a cat and mouse strategy versus hammering his opponent in weak areas.
All in all, glad to see Harrison continue his run back to the top forty. He’s done it!
Dan Markowitz · July 30, 2017 at 2:16 pm
Wait a second, Izzie and Harry are “red hot?” Not! Come on, who has either beat? Izzie beats Ebden to win Newport then he beats Lacko and Mueller to get to Atlanta finals. That’s not exactly a Murderer’s Row. Its not like he beat Raonic, Nishikori and Murray. Please, he’s playing opponents who are all either mediocre or Challenger players.
Harry beats Millman, Eubanks and Edmund, a guy who’s been on such a bad streak he fired his coach recently, and you want to call Izzie and Harry “hot.” Please, consider the opponents.
Dan Markowitz · July 30, 2017 at 2:26 pm
I’d say a bigger match today than Izzie v Harry is Brydan Klein v Matthew Ebden in final Qualy round in Mexico. Klein has twice to my knowledge, lost 6-4 in the third set to Ebden including last week at Newport Qualis. Let’s see if the big Brit can take down Ebden.
Bryan · July 30, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Great to see an all American final. Also pleased Isner and Harrison are actually playing well again. Could be a sign of US Open fortunes, though Isner often plays good in the lead up then goes busto anyhow.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Isner wins Atlanta with 7-6 7-6 shootout against Harrison. I can hear Harrison breaking racquets as we write…actually if he’s breaking racquets I’d think he’d be doing it with a smile, this is a good early summer result for him.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 7:57 pm
Match of today would be I think Fognini winning his title and Siniakova or Peng. Fognini is such a good player, sheesh. Peng doesn’t get the press but she’s winning titles in front of a home crowd, and Siniakova has put together a very good year since last year’s us open. There is something in the Czech water for sure as they have so many very good wta players. Or maybe it’s the beer, pilsner! Who knows.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 8:02 pm
I’d agree that the fields aren’t stellar, but if Harrison and Isner get ATP points and therefore don’t have to face the higher seeds for a few rounds at the bigger tournaments, that’s to their advantage. The tactic of playing weaker fields, or tournaments they like, is something top players do too. Maybe not Federer and Nadal as much, who prefer the practice and lighter match play strategy. But if a player doesn’t have that luxury of having already been in two slam finals and with a few titles on top of that, this isn’t a bad way to schedule.
Not like Fognini’s tournament victory was any harder either.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Isner must feel confident with two titles in two weeks. It’s a great feeling for him. If it were so easy Sock would’ve done it. But he didn’t.
Scoop Malinowski · July 30, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Nice typical win by Isner. He Inserized Harrison. First set evolving as expected then at 5-5 with Isner serving, Isner suddenly displays for all to see that his knee suddenly hurts and calls for the doctor for the changeover. Isner also makes a display to the chair ump Layhani that he wants or needs new balls, because I think, some of the match balls or one of them is dead or not feeling sufficiently adequate. Stall tactic number two by Isner. He holds and then gets the timeout which of course stalls Harrison. But Harrison holds. Tiebreaker. Harrison has the mini break. Then in an early point of the TB Isner suddenly displays the slightly delayed grunt during a baseline rally. Out of nowhere. Isner ends up getting back on serve and then closes it out with a backhand rip crosscourt on a second serve which catches sideline. Second set, Harrison holds and breaks for 2-0 but then plays a poor game and is broken back. Isner also played a poor game, even punching his Prince racquet strings after a netted swing volley which would have given him 15-40. But he did get the break and the set goes to the inevitable TB with Harrison once again getting the early mini break. But Isner battles back and ultimately wins it with another forehand up the line which Harrison can't quite handle with his running backhand. Great match and excellent win for Isner. Harrison is gracious and friendly at the net for the embrace unlike Isner's quick cold handshake after losing to Harrison in Canada last summer. Isner clearly regards himself as the American alpha male. Harrison appear on his way to be that man in the future.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 8:08 pm
Whoah Muller has been red hot since before Wimbledon! Lets not rob these players of their justified hype. It’s one thing for me to celebrate Kosakowski’s backhand, which is a bit ridiculous on my part but it’s a great shot. But we cant deny that Gilles Muller has had a fine string of tournaments including his epic win against Nadal and a fresh attitude. Isner finished off a game Muller because Isner rose to the challenge, not because Muller is a scrub.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 8:12 pm
Isner once said: “I’m playing for me out there” when asked about the surging USA men’s players. He’s noticed Sock ahead of him and I doubt he’s liked that at all! Let’s give Isner his due. He hasn’t just won these weaker field tournaments, he’s put himself in a few Masters finals too, which no other USA men’s player had done since Fish and Blake.
Andrew Miller · July 30, 2017 at 8:17 pm
But – Isner does struggle at slams. That’s the knock that will always hurt. But I guarantee that he noticed Querrey outdid him here with Querrey getting one round ahead of Isner with his Wimbledon semifinal, technically making Querrey the man of USA men’s tennis at the most important tournament in the sport. Isner noticed! He’s motivated.
USA men’s tennis above all is about status and the pecking order. Roddick not only knew he could compete with many of the top ten but was also comfortable as the top usa men’s player, even as he fell behind Fish and Blake for spells. In an era when no USA man wins slams, they all compete for the top slot here in the states.
After all when the announcer says Isner winner of Newport and Atlanta on the megaphone, Isner hears that amplified through a stadium before every match. He cares. Even if we don’t.
Duke Carnoustie · July 30, 2017 at 10:00 pm
Young v. Smyczek is under the lights in DC!
While Young should win, I will go with Smyczek in the upset. He will adjust and add another chapter to this rivalry.
Scoop Malinowski · July 30, 2017 at 10:49 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Muller is at his career high ranking now at 22 and ATL could lift it even higher. Muller could conceivably be top 15 by end of the year. Four years ago he was losing Miami qualis and hitting on public courts with Jean Yves Aubone.
Scoop Malinowski · July 30, 2017 at 10:52 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Isner is playing maybe his best right now. Serve is lethal as usual but he is striking the ball well on the first ball. He's a nightmare to play when he's on and he is ON. I just hope Isner does not burn out again before the Open by playing too much and he needs to skip Winston Salem to be sufficiently fresh. One of these majors Isner is going to put it together and take down a giant or two or three. It's overdue.
Scoop Malinowski · July 30, 2017 at 10:54 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
It's interesting Citi Open has made DY vs Smee the featured might match. I will be there. Also on the card are Kozlov v Bhambri who wiped up Koz in Aus Open qualis this year. Paul is in action. Opelka vs Medvedev. Giorgi vs Andreescu. I'm excited to get to DC tomorrow.
Chazz · July 30, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Yes, Isner is now the top American at #18, ahead of Sock who is now #19. Harrison stayed steady at #40.
Scoop Malinowski · July 30, 2017 at 11:31 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Isner and Harrison and Baghdatis are also in this star studded draw.
Andrew Miller · July 31, 2017 at 12:15 am
Isner and his engagement is boosting him. Harrison, Querrey, Isner, DY, all benefitting from stable relationships, their happiness off the court is pushing them on. That and the fact of the very hungry next generation of USA players, even if they’ve reached a plateau for the moment.