It was a fitting sendoff for Key Biscayne, as the Miami Open presented by Itau bade farewell to its longtime home on Sunday with a thrilling finale.
A captivating championship saw John Isner rally past Alexander Zverev 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 for the title, adding a historic first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown to his trophy case. The American and the German wrote one last chapter at Crandon Park, battling for two and a half hours in humid conditions.
At 32 years, 11 months, Isner is the oldest first-time winner at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level. In fact, only two other players (Agassi, Federer) older than Isner have won a Masters 1000 title. The big-hitting American overturned an 0-3 record in finals at the elite level, having previously finished runner-up to Roger Federer at Indian Wells 2012, to Rafael Nadal at Cincinnati 2013 and to Andy Murray at Paris 2016.
Isner's triumph has significant ATP Rankings implications as well, with the North Carolina native moving up eight spots to match his career-high of No. 9. The 32-year-old, who adds 1,000 ATP Rankings points and $1,340,860 in prize money, has retaken No. 1 American mantle after conceding it last year.
What a week for @JohnIsner!
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 1, 2018
Wins first Masters 1000 title defeating Zverev 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4.#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/DAQeefh5Yd
Isner entered the final having earned 37 consecutive service holds, facing just one break point in that span. And the American looked to be the stronger of the two competitors in the early stages, moving swiftly around the court and firing his forehand with aplomb.
Zverev started slow, striking a double fault to give Isner two break points in his opening service game. As he has done throughout the week, an aggressive Isner pounced on second serve returns and the American would jump on a short delivery to earn a third opportunity. But Zverev did well to turn aside all three break chances, as well as another two at 3-2.
With football legend David Beckham in attendance, the first set would be decided by a tie-break, where both players battled bouts of nerves. The lead vacillated from one side to the other, before Zverev reeled off four straight points to put a clamp on the opener after exactly one hour.
Beginning to labour with the oppressive conditions and under the pressure of Zverev's exceptional return game, Isner began to conserve energy in the second set. It would pay dividends. With Zverev serving at 4-all, a bevy of deep forehands from Isner's racquet would force Zverev into striking multiple errors. And the American would close out the set after saving a pair of break points in the next game. Imploring the crowd to get behind him, he would force a decider in dramatic fashion.
Isner continued to ratchet up the pressure in the third set and despite failing to convert on four break points - including a 0/40 look - at 2-all, he would not disappoint with the match on the line. The American claimed his second break of the championship for 5-4
Isner finally cracked Zverev's stranglehold on their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, claiming his first win in four encounters. All four meetings have come at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 stage. Moreover, Isner is the first American to win in Miami since Andy Roddick in 2010 and the first player ranked outside the Top 10 to lift the trophy since 1991, when a World No. 18 Jim Courier prevailed. In total, he adds a 13th tour-level crown and first of the year.
Isner kicked his high-powered game to new heights throughout the fortnight, dropping just one set en route to the title. Behind a confident array of net approaches and masterful court coverage, he notched convincing victories over fellow seeds Marin Cilic, Hyeon Chung and Juan Martin del Potro, leading into Sunday's triumph. It marks the first time he has beaten a pair of Top 5 players in a single tournament.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2GKYCyE
No comments:
Post a Comment