By Erik Gudris | @ATNTennis | Thursday, August 31, 2023
Former U.S. No.1 John Isner ended his career after a fifth set tiebreak loss to Michael Mmoh at the US Open.
Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty
For John Isner, a final tiebreak set seemed like the appropriate, and perhaps, ironic way to conclude his stellar career.
Isner, a former American No. 1 and former top ATP Tour top 10 played his final career match against fellow American Michael Mmoh in the second round of this year’s US Open.
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The match proved to be a titanic struggle between both men. Yet it was the 25-year-old Mmoh who battled back from two sets to love down before he ultimately secured the hard fought and come from behind 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(3) 6-4, 7-6(7) victory.
After the match, Isner reflected on the match and his career.
“It’s tough,” Isner said after the match. “This is why I worked as hard as I have my whole life, to play in atmospheres like this. You may not win them all, as you know, like today, but to play in front of this crowd, to have the support I had, is pretty special.”
Isner, who won 16 career ATP singles titles, including his biggest at the Miami ATP 1000 Masters event, appeared poised to perhaps make it through to the next round at his home major.
The Greensboro, North Carolina native easily won the first two sets, mostly off the strength of his huge serve that still holds the record for the most aces on tour, over 14,000 plus.
Yet Mmoh kept plugging away and managed to win the next two sets as Isner began to deal with a calf issue midway through the match. The 36-year-old Isner, as a response, started to find a way to the net in hopes of finishing off points early.
As younger American players, including Chris Eubanks and Ben Shelton entered the Grandstand court to have a view, the drama intensified. In the fifth set, Mmoh saved a match point down 4-5 on serve with an unreturnable serve out wide, before eventually holding for 5-all. Both men then served their way into a final set tiebreak.
Isner sent a forehand long in the next rally, to give him the mini-break and his own match point. In the final point, Isner placed a backhand volley into the net and the match was over.
“I want to give massive congrats to John on an incredible career,” said current World No. 89 Mmoh, who is into a Grand Slam third round for only the second time in his career, along with this year’s Australian Open.
“Obviously, this is a special moment for me, but it’s an even more special moment for John for all he’s done in his career.”
Mmoh and Isner, who are friends, shared a heart-felt embrace at net and again before Isner walked off the court for the final time. Mmoh paid tribute to the former all American who has inspired so many American players.
"It was amazing. I think John is one of the best guys on tour, one of the nicest guys on tour," Mmoh said. "I don't know if he gets the credit for that but he's an absolute standup.
"I just told him congrats on an amazing career. You know, to be top 20 for 10 years in a row, you know, that's an achievement that a lot of people would dream of. His longevity for a guy that big, it's not easy to do. There's a lot of injuries that usually come with a body like that. But, you know, he's been able to stay healthy and he's been able to rack up Ws for almost two decades. I just told him, Congrats. I told him how good of a person he is, too."
Mmoh will now face UK’s Jack Draper in the third round.