Isner Goes For Fourth Atlanta Title On A Full Stomach

To hear John Isner say it, defending an ATP World Tour title only gets easier the more times you do it. The three-time defending BB&T Atlanta Open champion will test that theory again this week when he goes for his fourth consecutive crown at Atlantic Station in Atlanta.

Isner will be trying to join some elite ATP World Tour company. Among active players, only a quartet have won a tournament four straight times.

“I think defending a tournament win the first time is pretty hard. Now I’ve done it three times… in a way it sort of takes the pressure off,” Isner said. “If I can do it this year it’d be pretty special…. I do feel like I’m most likely the guy to beat here.”

Isner, No. 17 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is the top seed at the ATP World Tour 250 event. The No.1 American opens his defence on Wednesday evening against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Isner is 5-1 against the left-hander, including a straight-sets win at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells earlier this season.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s contending for a fourth straight title here,” said Nick Kyrgios, who’s playing in Atlanta for the first time and is the second seed.

The fast Atlanta hard courts combined with the humid August air have helped Isner’s big game. “The courts and the conditions suit him well,” Kyrgios said. “If he’s having a good serving day, it’s almost impossible to return it.”

The 31-year-old Isner also benefits from an abundance of fan support. He played collegiate tennis only an hour and 20 minutes away from Atlanta at the University of Georgia in Athens. His former Bulldog coaches and hundreds of Georgia fans always come out to encourage him.

“I certainly feel their support when I’m on the court here,” Isner said.

Isner will try to jump-start his 2016 season in the friendly territory. The top American is still looking to win an ATP World Tour title for the seventh consecutive season.

“I haven’t really come through in some close matches whereas in the past I have. It’s nothing to do with my game, it’s just a couple things mental here and there,” he said. 

At Wimbledon, Isner had a match point and led Jo-Wilfried Tsonga two sets to love before falling in the fifth set 19-17.

“The good thing is I feel like I’m playing well. I’m not stressing about it,” Isner said. “I’m just happy to be back in Atlanta.”

If nothing else, Isner will apparently eat well while in the southeastern U.S. In Wednesday’s BB&T Atlanta Open “Daily Draw” program, Wayne Bryan, father of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, shared what Isner typically devours at the Waffle House restaurant:

“Two full chicken breasts, triple hash browns, double grits, seven scrambled eggs with cheese, a couple of slices of French toast and a short stack of pancakes – topped off with a quart of orange juice and a pint of milk,” Wayne Bryan wrote. “John Isner… you have to watch him very carefully around food.”