On a day when events at the US Open ran the emotional gamut from unbridled joy to deep despair, John Isner stood head and shoulders above the rest, just as he has always done.
In a fitting finale, the towering American’s singles career came to an end in a fifth-set tiebreak on the US Open’s Grandstand court, where the 38-year-old, fighting to the last ball before fighting back tears, was beaten by compatriot Michael Mmoh after leading by two sets to love.
Just for good measure, Isner later returned to lose another final-set super tiebreak, this time alongside Jack Sock, who is following his long-time doubles partner into retirement.
One of the finest servers in the sport’s history – “the best of all time” according to Andy Murray – Isner rarely relinquished a set without first exploring the opportunities offered by a tiebreak. That tends to happen when you are a 6ft 10in ace machine capable of throwing down deliveries at up to 157mph, as Isner did to set an official ATP record during a Davis Cup match against Australia in 2016.
Yet for all the ferocity with which he fired a record 14,471 over the course of his 17-year career, Isner has always remained the gentlest of giants. Emotion overwhelmed him after his loss to Mmoh, the veteran covering his face with a towel as the enormity of the moment hit home, and he struggled to speak at times as he addressed the crowd. There were more tears later in the press room, where Isner, who held a match point, attempted to make sense of the day and reflect on his legacy to the sport.
“It’s a range of emotions,” said Isner, who broke his wrist at Flushing Meadows las year and has struggled physically since. “There is, of course, a lot of disappointment with the result of my singles match today, but at the same time a lot of gratitude, as well, just to have one last time playing in an atmosphere like that.
“I like to think I’m a good competitor. I might not win every match, that’s for sure. I might lose a lot of close matches. I might get tight and choke a little bit on the court. That happens.
“But also, I care. I love this sport, for sure. I want to be remembered as someone who competed pretty hard on the court. I think I did that.
“Off the court, I think it’s most important within the locker room to have the respect of my colleagues. I think I have that, judging from how many people have spoken to me. Tennis is a… it’s been a huge part of my life. It’s tough to say good-bye. It’s not easy. But eventually this day would come. It’s hard to prepare for the emotions of it.”
Near unbreakable at his best – and often even when far from his best – the former world No 8 was a man made for tiebreaks and attrition. Few will forget his extraordinary victory over Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, which spanned three days and finally clocked in at 11 hours and five minutes, the longest match in tennis history. Barely less remarkable was his agonising defeat to Kevin Anderson at the All England Club in 2018, which ended 26-24 in the final set after six hours and 36 minutes, a record for a Wimbledon semi-final (and the fourth longest match of all-time). A top-20 player for a decade between 2010 and 2019, Isner was also a mainstay of American tennis at a time when it had little to shout about.
Yet it was not just a day for tears and statistics. Carlos Alcaraz, the top seed and defending champion, later won a match full of smiles and flashy shot-making against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris, the pair frequently delighting in their mutual dexterity. After an all too brief workout in the opening round, where Germany’s Dominic Koepfer retired midway through the second set after suffering an early ankle injury, Alcaraz advanced in straight sets 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), although not before suffering a sharp third-set dip.
“Sometimes it’s tough to enjoy on court, but I try to most of the time enjoy myself on court, having a smile during the match, making jokes with my team,” said Alcaraz. “It makes me smile and show my best level.
“I don’t mind if I lose or win, if I’m losing points I [still] high-five with the opponent. I think we did great points. We made entertainment; we’re looking, in every match, to make people enjoy watching tennis.”
There were some humorous asides, too. Daria Kastakina, who overcame Sofia Kenin 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round for the first time, joked about her poor record in New York when asked about her expectations for the tournament.
“I used to have big expectations here,” said Kastakina, the 13th seed. “But then I checked my record and I realised maybe, ‘Dasha, you have to slow down.’”
Kasatkina, who will play Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen for a place in the last 16, also reflected on the difficulty of getting away from tennis during the US Open, where players adorn billboards and the sport dominates the TV schedule. Alcohol, she quipped might be the only solution. “Well, if we play each other, I’ll bring her the bottle myself,” smiled Ons Jabeur, a 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-3 winner over Linda Noskova. “I’ll make sure she’s hydrated.”
There was nothing light-hearted about Matteo Berrettini’s meeting with Arthur Rinderknech, however, the former Wimbledon finalist leaving the court in a wheelchair after turning an ankle while trailing 6-4, 5-3. It continued an appalling run of injury misfortune for the Italian, who collapsed behind the baseline before emitting a howl of anguish. Berrettini underwent surgery on his right hand last year, and has struggled with a persistent abdominal injury this season.