(July 28, 2013) -- After three trips to the finals of the BB&T Atlanta Open, University of Georgia graduate
John Isner celebrated taking home the title in front of a partisan local crowd after winning the longest best-of-three ATP final this season.
But it wasn't easy for top seed Isner, who faced No. 2 seed
Kevin Anderson. Both men are known for their big serves and several tiebreaks were expected in what was also the tallest ATP finals held this year.
Break points were at a premium throughout the near three-hour match with Isner saving two against him in the opening set. That led to the first tiebreak of the afternoon after Isner saved two set points earlier. Anderson secured an early lead when Isner let a forehand fly long. Anderson soon closed out the first set 7-6(3).
That ended Isner's recent win streak of 12 tiebreaks in a row.
Both men saved break points against them in the second set that again resulted in needing a tiebreak to decide things. This time it was a botched forehand from Anderson that gave Isner a 4-2 lead that the American never relinquished. A big serve from Isner sealed the 7-6(2) set and sent the match into a decider.
Anderson, who was seeking his first title of the year after having reached the finals in Sydney and Casablanca, got an early chance to take control in the third set. The South African held four break points against Isner at 1-0. But Isner saved all four and soon held for 1-all.
Isner would go on to save seven break points against him in the final set, including two that were also match points when he was serving at 5-6. One of them Isner saved by hitting a 143 mph serve - the fastest of the tournament.
As expected, the final set came down to yet another tiebreak. Isner took control early with a forehand return winner to claim the mini-break at 1-0. Anderson, who had played the better of the two men for most of the afternoon, couldn't maintain his form as a netted backhand gave Isner a 4-0 lead.
Firmly in control, Isner soon held multiple match points of his own. With a final big serve that Anderson couldn't handle, Isner clinched the 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 7-6(2) victory.
Isner hit 24 aces in the match along with saving all 11 break points he faced in the afternoon.
This marks the first Atlanta title for Isner, who lost in two previous finals back in 2010 and 2011. Atlanta is Isner's second title this season having won in Houston earlier this spring.
Isner is next scheduled to compete in next week's Citi Open in Washington, D.C.
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