ATP Auckland: Isner Edges Past Querrey In Tight Three Set Match

Top American John Isner opened up his 2016 campaign in Auckland earlier today with a tight three set win over fellow American Sam Querrey. In a battle between two of the biggest servers on tour, few would be surprised that one break of serve would decide the match.

“It was obviously a very close match, I considered it pretty much a coin flip out here tonight and I was fortunate to win.” said Isner after wrapping up the victory.

Tight First and Second Sets

The first set followed the script- the ace count racked up quickly while break points were scant. With Isner unable to convert the only break point opportunity, the first set headed towards a tiebreaker. Querrey was the first to pull ahead at 4-4 after a good read on the Isner serve allowed him to take control. Querrey had two chances to snatch the set at 6-4 in the breaker, but the world no. 11 fought back taking 6 of the next 8 points to take the set 10-8 in a tiebreak.

The second was nearly identical to the first, but this time it was Querrey who had a chance to break. Inevitably, it was decided in a breaker again where Querrey again found himself with a 6-4 lead. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice and closed out the set with his seventh ace of the set.

Isner Moves Into Quarterfinals

With a set count of 1-1, the intensity hadn't declined going into the third set. Both players seemed poised for another breaker until Querrey blinked in the seventh game at 3-3 giving Isner the lone break of the match.

After 2 hours and 13 minutes on court, John Isner was able to close it out 7-6(8) 6-7(4) 6-4.

With the win, Isner improves to a 13-2 record in Auckland and trimmed the head to head deficit against Querrey 2-4. The pair faced off twice last year, both times on American hard courts in Memphis and Cincinatti, with Querrey prevailing on both occasions. This marked their first hard court meeting outside the US.

With the win, Isner moves on to the quarterfinals where he will face off against eighth seeded Roberto Bautista Agut. The Spaniard took out American Donald Young in a second set tiebreaker in an hour and twenty six minutes earlier today.

Stat of the day: Isner and Querrey hit a combined 52 aces in their three set epic.

Statistics: