Every future champion has moments in their career where they announce themselves as a serious threat to the sporting world.

Roger Federer announced himself at Wimbledon in 2001, two years before he won his first Grand Slam title when, still a little wet behind the ears, he beat Pete Sampras in a memorable encounter. On Friday in just his fourth tournament at the highest level, John Isner will get his chance to do something similar against the best player in the world.

The 6ft 9ins giant, who already shows signs of the same cat-like court movement that served Sampras so well, along with solid ground stroke technique and a powerful forehand, will present the sternest test of Federer’s US Open quest for four consecutive titles so far.

'Just as it took Federer several years to master his precocious talent, I suspect it will take Isner several more years to do the same'


Notice I have not mentioned his powerful serve yet? That’s right. An impressive bullet like serve alone will not present a serious challenge to the world No 1 with the impressive form he has already shown this US Open. No, it is combating the rest of the game Isner has already shown to awed US audiences throughout the summer that will present just as much of a test for Roger, as much as the task of successfully blocking enough bullets back into court to win the crucial points on Isner’s service games.

For sure, injury free, Isner will finish next year ranked inside the top 30. But is he too green to beat the three-time defending champion at their first encounter, or can he spring one of the world’s next most memorable upsets?

I for one look forward to finding out whether Isner is the real deal and Friday’s match will present the next question on that examination paper. Just as it took Federer several years to master his precocious talent, I suspect it will take Isner several more years to do the same.

So I am going to predict Federer will win this match; most likely in four sets. But I also think Isner right now still stands as good a chance of anyone on the tour of dethroning the king in this tournament.  And so I fully expect that three of those four sets will run to tie breaks.

In the end, I suspect Federer’s greater maturity and experience in dealing with tense, tough key points will prove the difference. Nonetheless we all look forward to an encounter between the current No 1 and a player who, in a few years, if he learns how to make the most of his precocious talent, could take that ranking, as well as many future Grand Slam titles.