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7/22/10 6:29 AM | Ricky Dimon
John Isner goes the distance again in his first match back from Wimbledon, outlasting Gilles Muller in a third-set tiebreaker on Wednesday in Atlanta. Isner is through to a quarterfinal meeting with Michael Russell.
This time they played a tiebreaker.
John Isner saved two match points before defeating Gilles Muller 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(7) in the second round of the Atlanta Tennis Championships on Wednesday night. It was Isner's first match since Wimbledon, where he outlasted Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 in the longest match in tennis history.
"I had a feeling I wasn't going to play my best out there," said Isner, who added that he has spent more time with media obligations than practicing tennis in recent weeks.
For a set and a half, Isner's fears proved to be correct. The 6'9'' American won only two return points, including none against his opponent's first serve in the opening frame of play. One break was easily enough for Muller to take a one-set advantage.
More of the same continued early in the second, with Muller taking care of his serve while also earning a host of break-point opportunities. Isner fought off break chances in each of his first two service games and saved six in total to force a tiebreaker. The world No. 19 had a break--and set--point of his own with Muller serving at 5-6, but the Luxembourgian held.
A tense 'breaker saw Isner give back an early mini-break at 3-1 and he eventually fell behind 6-5. Showing the same mental toughness that took him to victory against Mahut, Isner saved match point with a forehand drop-volley and clinched the set two points later by forcing Muller into a backhand error.
With momentum in hand, Isner--and the crowd--continued to heat up in the third. Atlanta's No. 2 seed began to hold serve with greater ease, as he won 23 of 26 first-serve points in the final set. The lone break point came with Muller serving at 1-1, but the world No. 206 promptly erased it. Muller survived a deuce game at 5-5 before Isner held to extend the match to a decisive tiebreaker.
To the chagrin of the fans, Muller seemed to have control of the 'breaker, seizing a mini-break at 1-1 on the way to a 4-1 advantage. He double-faulted at 5-3, however, to bring Isner back on serve. Isner saved a second match point at 6-7, then came up with big first serve to set up his first match point. After a brief rally, Muller sprayed a backhand wide to end the proceedings after two hours and 33 minutes.
"Every time he (Isner) made a first serve," Muller said of his match points and break-point chances. "There's nothing I could do about it. I don't feel like I did anything wrong in those moments."
"The way I compete keeps me in it," Isner said of his propensity for long, pressure-packed matches. "That's the only thing I could draw on tonight. The crowd was great. The whole crowd was in my favor.
"Only two hours and something today," Isner joked.
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