John Isner is looking to reclaim his throne atop the BB&T Atlanta Open this week.
Isner returns to the event he’s won a tournament-best three times. He’s the No. 2 seed behind fellow American Jack Sock.
“It’s great to be back,” Isner said. “Of course, (I have) a lot of very good memories here in Atlanta. I’ve played well here in this tournament’s seven-year history. Always found myself pretty deep in the tournament. So I’m hoping 2017 will be no different.
“I’m looking forward to getting my campaign started (Wednesday) night.”
Isner is coming off one of the more impressive performances of his career. He won his third Newport title last weekend. In doing so, he became the second player in ATP history to win a title without facing a break point, joining Tommy Haas’ 2007 performance in Memphis.
The win moved Isner to No. 20 in the world, just one spot behind Sock.
Isner earned a first-round bye, so he relaxed while other competitors went head-to-head Monday. Isner went into Central Park at Atlantic Station with “Hi-Lite” of the Harlem Globetrotters to trade skill tutorials. The two taught each other tricks, shared some laughs and took photos with fans.
“I played basketball growing up, being so tall and from North Carolina,” a smiling Isner said. “He taught me a little bit. I got better today.”
Back on the other court, Isner’s first Atlanta Open opponent will be Vasek Pospisil of Canada, who narrowly defeated American Bjorn Fratangelo in the round of 32 on Tuesday afternoon.
Pospisil and Isner have faced off five times, with Isner winning three. Isner has taken the two most recent meetings, both occurring in 2015.
Isner, a former University of Georgia standout, won the event three consecutive times before he was upset by eventual champion Nick Kyrgios last year. That snapped a 15-match winning streak for Isner in Atlanta.
There won’t be a rematch, as Kyrgios had to withdraw before this year’s Open because of a hip injury.
Isner enjoys starting the U.S. Open series in Atlanta — even with the unrelenting heat.
“It definitely helps you prepare,” he said of the humidity. “Everyone knows when you come over to America and you’re playing on the hard courts in the summer, it’s going to be hot. It’s going to be humid. So to get out here early on in the season, to get acclimated to these conditions helps a lot. You can practice in the heat. You can play matches and train in the heat, but the best way to get in shape is to play actual matches in this stuff.”
The 32-year-old Isner has 11 ATP Tour titles. He’s 23-4 in the Atlanta Open, having never lost before the semifinals.
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