Josh Zipin, a resident of Manhattan, hurriedly made his way from Arthur Ashe Stadium to the Grandstand court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Thursday. His goal? To witness the final set of John Isner’s singles match, as he had never had the opportunity to see Isner play live before. Zipin was particularly eager to see Isner’s remarkable serve in person, which he described as “insane.”
However, Zipin overheard a conversation behind him where someone asked how many times they could return Isner’s serve if given 100 attempts. The response was a somewhat humorous “one,” and Zipin thought that was probably being generous.
For 16 years, Isner, a 38-year-old American tennis star, has captivated fans worldwide with his unique style of play. Known for his powerful serve, strong groundstrokes, quick net play, and volleys, Isner has become a legend in the sport.
Standing at an impressive 6-foot-10, Isner holds the record for the most career aces in men’s tennis. However, he is most famously remembered for his marathon match against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, which lasted a staggering 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. This epic match, along with another extended match in 2018, led Wimbledon to implement a final-set tiebreaker. For those with time to spare, the entire match can still be watched on YouTube.
Isner achieved an impressive feat by remaining in the top 20 of the singles rankings for ten consecutive years, from 2010 to 2019. While he reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in 2011 and 2018 and the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2018, Isner couldn’t secure a victory in any Grand Slam tournament.
Andy Murray, one of Isner’s contemporaries, admiringly stated in an interview this week that Isner was a formidable opponent and seeing him on the draw was always a challenge. Murray even went as far as calling Isner’s serve the best of all time.
Thursday marked the last time Isner would showcase his incredible serve in a professional event. Prior to the U.S. Open, Isner announced his retirement from tennis to spend more time with his wife, Madison, and their four children. In a heartfelt message on social media, Isner expressed his excitement for the transition and the precious moments he would be able to share with his family.
Isner started his U.S. Open campaign with a convincing straight-sets victory against Facundo Diaz Acosta, an unseeded player from Argentina. Several of Isner’s retired counterparts, including the Bryan brothers and Sam Querrey, were in attendance to support him.
However, Isner faced defeat in a five-set match against a younger American player named Michael Mmoh. Despite playing amidst a crowd largely in favor of Isner, Mmoh remained composed and emerged as the victor. Overwhelmed with emotions, Isner buried his head in a towel and struggled to hold back tears during the post-match interview.
Mmoh acknowledged the magnitude of his win, describing it as the greatest achievement of his career, and commended Isner for his remarkable and trailblazing journey in tennis.
Lisa Katter, a Long Island native, expressed her admiration for Isner’s performance, marveling at his ability to ace throughout the entire match, even at this point in his career.
But Isner’s retirement wasn’t immediately final. Following his singles match, Isner slung his bag over his shoulder and went on to compete in doubles. Unfortunately, he and his partner, fellow American Jack Sock, who is also retiring after the U.S. Open, were defeated in three sets.
Reflecting on the day, Isner admitted to feeling a mix of emotions. He expressed disappointment over his performance but also gratitude for the opportunity to compete at the U.S. Open one last time and pride in his achievements throughout his career. Isner was touched by the standing ovation he received from the packed stadium.
Isner shared that his body had been feeling the strain recently, and the prospect of no longer having to train was a relief. He looked forward to discovering new passions and devoting more time and energy to being a supportive husband and father. Saying goodbye to tennis was no easy task for him, as the sport had been an integral part of his life.
As Isner uttered those final words, his voice trailed off, and he lowered his head briefly to collect himself. Tennis, he remarked, held great significance for him, making bidding farewell a difficult moment.
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