Growing to a height of 6-foot-9 is many a kids’ dream in basketball crazy-North Carolina. But for Greensboro native John Isner, it was his ticket to tennis success.
Tuesday at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, in his second appearance in an ATP event, Isner showed he has found his calling as he upset veteran and former Legg Mason champion Tim Henman of England, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Using a bullet serve that topped out at 140 mph, Isner ripped 18 aces to beat the Brit at his own serve-and-volley game. Isner advances to a second-round match against eighth-seeded Benjamin Becker of Germany.
“I gave [basketball] up after my freshman year of high school,” said Isner. “I was a perimeter player — like Dirk [Nowitzki] — tall, shoot the three… But I thought I could do something with tennis. I think I might have chose the right sport.”
Isner, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, was runner up in the NCAA championship, lead Georgia to the team title. Two weeks later, Isner collected a check for $15,000, winning his first professional event, the ITF GMC Championship in California. Earlier this month he made his ATP debut, losing an opening-round match at Newport, R.I.
“To come away with a win against a player of Tim’s caliber is awesome,” said Isner, 22. “It’s kind of surreal for me.”
Isner started slowly against the 32-year-old Henman, the Legg Mason champion in 2003, who has earned $11.6 million in his career. Henman had success moving the slow-footed Isner around the court.
But in the final two sets, Isner was dominant when serving, winning all 11 of his service games. Of his final 36 service points, Isner won 32, including the last seven.
Henman said he has faced players who serve as fast as Isner. But what made Tuesday’s serves so difficult to return was the high angle from which they came.
Isner had Henman on the run late in the third set. But at double match point, Henman served back-to-back aces to get to deuce and square the set at 5-5. In the tie-breaker, both players held serve on the first six points. But when Henman hit a forehand into the net, losing a service point, it spelled doom. Isner followed with an ace and another serve Henman could not handle. Two points later, Henman double faulted, handing the match to Isner.
