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John Isner - America's newest tennis idol with lofty ambitions

The powerful young giant is expected to make a Top 10 ATP ranking this year.

by Mark McCormick on 14 February 2010

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John Isner: Could be a power on the ATP Tour this year (gettyimages.com)

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At 6ft 9ins, John Isner is being hailed as America's new tennis idol.

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Isner is a product of the American college system and has already proved that he has the potential to make it big.

He had great success at the University of Georgia, where he won the NCAA doubles title as a sophomore, led his team to the National Championship, and was selected to the All-American team for four successive years.

Isner started his ATP career with a ranking of 839 but shot up to 416 after winning his first USA F14 tournament. That entitled him to a place in the 2007 US Open and he reached the third round in his first ever Grand Slam.

But he had already made a big impression before falling to eventual champion Roger Federer 6–7(4) 6–2 6–4 6–2. Isner aced Federer 18 times, and finished with 66 aces for the tournament and was one of only two players to take a set off of Federer in the championship. His ranking rocketed to 144.

Isner had a quiet 2008, but he had the crowd in shock during the US Open last year. Ranked 55th, he knocked out fellow countryman Andy Roddick in the third round, firing 38 aces in a great five-setter.

Isner started the 2010 season by winning the Heineken Open then eased through two rounds in the Australian Open before going out to Andy Murray, but not before he had gate-crashed the top 30 rankings, not far behind his American pal Roddick.

The future of American tennis is in good hands and we should see the big guy break into the world's top ten this year. And a Grand Slam title is not out of the question for the 24-year-old over the next two or three years.

John Isner is like Juan Martin Del Potro and Ivo Karlovic rolled into one. Remember the name . . .

Comments (1)

by fred a on February 15, 2010

Isner and Del Potro should NEVER be in the same sentence together.NEVER ! Del Potro doesn't show up at just 1 major every year like Isner does.Del Potro shows up at ALL 4 majors regardless of surface Isner is slower than Del Potro and his forehand can break unlike Del Potro Del Potro has shown that he plays well on pretty much every surfaces except on grass and I bet he will be better in 2010 come Wimbledon. what's Isner record on clay? ABYSMAL ! what's Isner's record on grass? ABYSMAL! Del Potro has won titles on hard courts;clay and especially Masters Series and a SLAM Isner beats old Arnaud Clement and some unknown player last year for his titles;had a fluke run at the 2010 Australian Open has horrible record in Paris and Wimbledon and the Masters Series and now Isner is the great American "hero" ? does it surprise you that he beat Roddick who has NO return of serve and keep slicing balls back in the middle of the court? give me a break! let me know when Isner wins a Masters Series beating the likes of Federer;Nadal;Murray;Djokobic and wins a grand slam John Isner is the great American hope and HYPE nothing else!