By Alberto Amalfi | Monday, April 13, 2015
John Isner hit 13 aces and permitted just four points on his serve in a 6-4, 6-4 sweep of Steve Johnson in Monte Carlo.
Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Transitioning to European clay wasn't exactly an impediment for John Isner's explosive serve.
In a rare all-American Monte Carlo clash, Isner cracked 13 aces and won 30 of 34 points played on his first serve to beat his friend, Steve Johnson, 6-4, 6-4, in a 70-minute opening-round match.
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It was only the third time since 1990 that two Americans met in Monte Carlo.
Both prior all-American matches came in 1998 when Andre Agassi defeated Todd Martin in the first round before losing to Pete Sampras in the second round.
The match came a day after Jack Sock defeated Sam Querrey in the all-American Houston final.
The 15th-seeded Isner will face either Casablanca champion Martin Klizan or Serbia's Viktor Troicki next. The winner of that second-rounder could face eight-time champion Rafael Nadal in the third round.
No. 12 seed Roberto Bautista Agut dismissed Benjamin Becker, 6-0, 6-2, in 52 minutes to set up a second-round meeting with another German, Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Alexandr Dolgopolov defeated Borna Coric, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. Dolgopolov will play either wild card Gael Monfils or qualifier Andrey Kuznetsov next.
Andreas Haider-Maurer upset 13th-seeded Ernests Gulbis, 6-1, 6-0.
Fabio Fognini was a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Jerzy Janowicz.