Isner Finds His Range In Atlanta

Top seed John Isner’s BB&T Atlanta Open title defence is off to a flying start after the American reeled off the last 10 games of the match to dispatch of Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Wednesday night. Isner extended his winning streak in Atlanta to 13 with the 6-4, 6-0 second-round result having claimed the title the past three years.

Despite being broken for 2-1 in the opening set, the World No. 17 began to find his range. From 2-4 down, he broke twice to take the opening set and after saving four break points in the opening game of the second set, was never troubled again, reeling off a bagel set to seal the match in little more than one hour. He finished with 16 aces and saved four of five break points faced.

“I guess just getting that break at 4-3 to get it back on serve,” Isner said of the turning point in the match. “The previous game I had three break points but didn’t play that well but it was still an encouraging game.

“I held serve at 4-2 and got it back on serve and from there felt really good about my chances. I certainly turned the match around. I don’t know if I’ve ever won 10 games in a row, but I’ll take it.”

Isner carried a 5-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head record into his match with the French lefty. He knew exactly what he had to do to ensure a sixth win.

“I think tactically I did some things well out there. I needed to go to his forehand and I did,” he said. “I was going to his backhand a little too much early on and was paying the price for it. The game plan was get the ball high and up on his forehand because he does not like that at all.”

Isner will next meet either No. 8 seed Taylor Fritz or fellow American Bjorn Fratangelo for a place in the semi-finals. He has never fallen before the semi-finals in six prior appearances.