Isner: Feast Or Famine In Houston

Back in Houston, John Isner is hoping to recreate some of his favorite memories from the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship this week.

The American has played the event eight times in as many years. But he’s had uneven showings the past four years, finishing as a finalist (2012), champion (2013) and twice losing in his first match (2014, 2015). “I’ve been feast or famine here,” Isner said on Tuesday. “I’m looking to buck that trend of the last two years.”

The No. 1 seed received a first-round bye and is scheduled to play his second-round match against compatriot Denis Kudla on Wednesday evening. He’ll start his Houston run without the help of a full-time coach. He and former ATP World Tour player Justin Gimelstob announced their split on Gimelstob’s website on Monday. The two have worked together since December 2014.

“After an incredibly enjoyable year and a half coaching one the best talents in the sport, John and I have decided to end our professional relationship,” wrote Gimelstob, who also serves on the ATP World Tour Board of Directors. “I’m very proud of what John has accomplished and I wish him the best moving forward.”

Isner said he’s without a coach for the time being, although countryman and former World No. 7 Mardy Fish of the USTA is with him in Houston. “Not having a coach is not going to hinder me at all,” Isner said. “It’s all on me to come here and play well.”

The 30 year old will try to improve on his start to 2016. Isner is 8-6 this year but three times has lost in his first match at tournaments, including at the Argentina Open, the Rio Open presented by Claro, and the Miami Open presented by Itau.

“I think I have a lot of upside, given how I play and the style of my game,” Isner said. “But at the same time if I’m not doing the right things on the court, and I’ve shown this this year, I can lose to a lot of players.”

The World No. 15’s three early exits this year have come against players ranked outside the Top 70 of the ATP Emirates Rankings, including his 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(5) loss to World No. 132 Tim Smyczek last month in Miami. Isner has won less than 20 per cent (1-5) of his matches that have come down to the final set this year. For his career, he’s won almost 60 per cent of those matches.

“This year, especially, I’ve lost a lot of incredibly tough matches, which in the past I’ve been accustomed to winning. So it’s been a bit of a trying 2016 so far,” he said. “But I feel strong and I feel fit and as long as I still feel that way and want to compete and am hungry out there, I know I can do some very good things.”