John Isner & USO'13: America's Last Great Chance For A Slam

The Winston-Salem Tactic

  • Play it out & Defend the 250

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • Spank the traitor & tank ASAP

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Get to the weekend only if it's easy

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • Withdraw (fatigue)

    Votes: 9 69.2%
  • Total voters
    13
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
The long, strong summer of Isner continues this week in Winston-Salem as he defends his title at the final tune-up prior to Flushing.

Since his early out @Wimby, John has almost maxed out on events, matches and long TB sets...5 events, 20 matches (16-4), one title, two finals losses and an amazing 23 tiebreakers. Had he converted either tiebreaker vs Nadal, it likely would have been 24 as Nadal had gained absolutely zero chances to break the entire match.

He faces a possible four more matches in his native state if he is to contend for defense of his title. That's a LOT of tennis in six weeks. I feel he may benefit from an early exit even though it will be a disappointment for his home crowd. Pospisil upset him early in Montreal, maybe giving him a needed "mini-break" to be fresh for The Real Slam. Flushing and 3of5's means a need for even fresher legs/shoulder.

Isner turns 29 next April. He is peaking now and may not have as good a shot at a slam than this one. God knows there's not another US prospect worthy for discussion. I say, "Play W-S with one eye on the Big Apple"!
 
topher

topher

Hall of Fame
I haven't been a faithful enough follower of Isner to know what would be best for him, but he said he was tired at Cincy and there isn't going to be any better match-play preparation than the 4 top 10 players he saw there so it would seem an early loss/withdrawal in NC would help his US Open chances.

That said, I doubt he'll approach it that way and my optimistic expectation for him at the US is a QF appearance, though he could easily come up well short of it.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
I now realize Isner has quite a bit extra motivation to get to the weekend...a SF appearance puts him over the top for the USO Series and doubles his prize money in Flushing. That's big cabbage!

Rain has delayed today's matches but the forecast is better later in the week. Let's hope he doesn't have to do 2-a-days, play to the SFs and get fresh for Flushing. None of the bigs wants him in their section, especially if it stays hot and sticky through the tourney.
 
swizzy

swizzy

Hall of Fame
I was very impressed with his groundies in the final. he was hitting the cover off the ball. his height is ultimately a bigger weakness than a strength. he moves well for a giant though.
 
batz

batz

G.O.A.T.
I think he should withdraw from Winston Churchill if he harbours any real aspirations to win his home slam.
 
equinox

equinox

Hall of Fame
Withdraw.

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.
 
veroniquem

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
Exactly. He overplayed if his goal was to win USO. But I don't think he seriously believes in his chances there.
 
batz

batz

G.O.A.T.
Looks like Ser John of house Isner has been reading this thread - he's withdrawn.

I think we can all give ourselves a cyber pat on the back.
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
veroniquem said:
Wow how powerful are we?
TW message board: the most influential force in pro tennis :)
Click to expand...

Yikes...scary isn't it? I think we better be more careful what we say. You just never know who might be listening! :wink:
 
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stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
veroniquem said:
Exactly. He overplayed if his goal was to win USO. But I don't think he seriously believes in his chances there.
Click to expand...

Why should he not believe in his chances? He beat, in succession, the #8, #12, #1 and #7 seeds at a MS1000 and pushed your beloved idol to the brink in two sets, never having to defend a breakpoint. If he's not gonna believe in himself now, then he and everyone else should just withdraw and hand the title over to a randomly chosen member of the top 4.

I repeat...no one will want to see his name in their section.

Withdrawing (thanks Batz for the update) is probably the smartest move he could make in the prep for Flushing, although it's an expensive gamble he can make back more by a deep run times the lower 2nd-place ratio.
 
killerboi2

killerboi2

Hall of Fame
Great chance? He's made it to the quarters and beyond like once in his career. He'd have to play out of his skin even if he wants a small chance.
 
Goosehead

Goosehead

Legend
he a brainless gimp who will be too tired to fart by the time the u s open starts, never mind about winning the title.
 
cucio

cucio

Legend
Nah, Donald Young is your man. Book it. His 17-match losing streak is the third longest in the Open Era, behind Andrey Golubev's (18) and Vince Spadea's (21), after a loss to Jesse Levine at the 2012 Cincinnati Masters. I have seen the Law of Averages cited a lot here recently regarding Nadal's streak. So there you have it.
 
Cfidave

Cfidave

Professional
He has never done well in best of 5 set tournaments. There is a reason for that. No way this guy wins 7 matches in that format to take a slam title. It's not about how good he is, as much as his lack of stamina in 5 setters. He pays a big price for his size, when it comes to long matches, especially back to back.
 
B

bullfan

Legend
Cfidave said:
He has never done well in best of 5 set tournaments. There is a reason for that. No way this guy wins 7 matches in that format to take a slam title. It's not about how good he is, as much as his lack of stamina in 5 setters. He pays a big price for his size, when it comes to long matches, especially back to back.
Click to expand...

He's not good enough. I watched him lose to a tired DelPo in DC finals, where Isner didn't have to play 2 matches in a day like DelPo, or have the later SF. Isner was only interesting in the first set due to his serve. DelPos shots were hit much harder, and actually had accuracy. Isner doesn't have a whole lot of accuracy. What he does have is the "oh, I missed it pitiful look down pat".

Nadal won the tiebreaks..... Nadal could have easily won this without tiebreaks.

Nadal showed serve bots on hc that they can't win big tournaments.
 
B

bullfan

Legend
My understanding is that the top 3 double their prize money. Isner can't hope to win, but hopes to double what he makes.

Kim C won the extra 1m by playing 2 tournies, and winning 1.
 
marc45

marc45

G.O.A.T.
berdych pulled out too, blow to the tourney, but these things happen at the week before slam events
 
P

pound cat

G.O.A.T.
equinox said:
Withdraw.

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.
Click to expand...


Just add a few periods after the withdraw and save yourself some typing next time although I did like the message you added that many of us have seen in our own posts.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Issie will be a lot fresher for the possible R16 rematch. He doesn't lack confidence in this matchup...first to take Ralph to five sets @FO and last week's tight final.
 
ruerooo

ruerooo

Legend
bullfan said:
Isner isn't ever winning a grand slam. He's not that good.
Click to expand...

People just amaze me sometimes. I was just talking about this with someone today. Their position was that A-Rod just “wasn’t that good” because he’d “only won one Slam” … and I was like, dude, perhaps that has something to do with having had to face Roger in three Wimbledon finals … and Juan Carlos Ferrero could have had at least two as well, had he not had to face down A-Rod in his US Open final the year he won Roland Garros.

Do people understand how difficult it is to win even one of these things? :shock:

Or have Rafa and Roger kind of spoiled everybody?
 
PSNELKE

PSNELKE

Legend
Isner's chances of winning a major are about as high as Donald Young's chances to win a major.

You know US tennis is at an all time low, when John Isner is their biggest chances for another major win. :lol:
 
B

bullfan

Legend
ruerooo said:
People just amaze me sometimes. I was just talking about this with someone today. Their position was that A-Rod just “wasn’t that good” because he’d “only won one Slam” … and I was like, dude, perhaps that has something to do with having had to face Roger in three Wimbledon finals … and Juan Carlos Ferrero could have had at least two as well, had he not had to face down A-Rod in his US Open final the year he won Roland Garros.

Do people understand how difficult it is to win even one of these things? :shock:

Or have Rafa and Roger kind of spoiled everybody?
Click to expand...

Please do not refer to Andy Roddick as A-Rod. A-Rod is a cheating baseball player. It's disrespectful to Andy Roddick. I'm sure you didn't mean that, but A-Rod is a famous nickname for that lousy baseball guy. Just google A-Rod and you'll see.

Now, off my soapbox, and onto your post..... I was referring to Isner, not Andy Roddick. I watched Isner lose to DelPo in DC final this summer. I couldn't believe how difficult it was for Isner to get the ball back in play. DelPo has much more power in his shots than Isner. Isner, just isn't very good without his serve. He's like Raonic, a serve bot with pretty poor movement skills.

After watching the Citi final, I realized that Isner really has excelled at his "oh, did I miss the court or just get the ball into the net look" down pat. I wasn't surprised to see all those looks again during the final with Rafa.
 
ruerooo

ruerooo

Legend
bullfan said:
Please do not refer to Andy Roddick as A-Rod. A-Rod is a cheating baseball player. It's disrespectful to Andy Roddick. I'm sure you didn't mean that, but A-Rod is a famous nickname for that lousy baseball guy. Just google A-Rod and you'll see.
Click to expand...

I know who that person is, and I think Andy Roddick *should* have that nickname instead -- he has even called himself that on occasion (and he's a self-identified sports fan, so he also knows who the other one is). I don't even refer to that other person by name (I don't like him either, and that's putting it mildly). But I'll call him what I want, thanks.

bullfan said:
Now, off my soapbox, and onto your post..... I was referring to Isner, not Andy Roddick.
Click to expand...

I know to whom you were referring. I was making a reference to your quote with reference to the subject of how hard it was to win a Slam (because you had said Isner wasn't good enough to win one, and there are some people who think anyone can win one and it's just as easy as falling off a log these days ... when it really isn't, which demonstrates that some people were/are overvaluing Isner's skills). Apparently, it was too oblique a reference for the conversation.

I also know you were at the Citi Open final because we spoke at some length in that thread about the food and how close the tennis center is to Rock Creek Park.

Carry on.
 
B

bullfan

Legend
ruerooo said:
I know who that person is, and I think Andy Roddick *should* have that nickname instead -- he has even called himself that on occasion (and he's a self-identified sports fan, so he also knows who the other one is). I don't even refer to that other person by name (I don't like him either, and that's putting it mildly). But I'll call him what I want, thanks.



I know to whom you were referring. I was making a reference to your quote with reference to the subject of how hard it was to win a Slam (because you had said Isner wasn't good enough to win one, and there are some people who think anyone can win one and it's just as easy as falling off a log these days ... when it really isn't, which demonstrates that some people were/are overvaluing Isner's skills). Apparently, it was too oblique a reference for the conversation.

I also know you were at the Citi Open final because we spoke at some length in that thread about the food and how close the tennis center is to Rock Creek Park.

Carry on.
Click to expand...

I guess I totally misunderstood your post. Thanks.

And I got to be your 5555 post. There's got to be good karma in that for me!
 
borg number one

borg number one

Legend
Stringertom, you may be right about it being a good while before an American wins a major in men's tennis. I don't see any viable prospects out there right now to be frank. At least the Bryan Brothers and S. Williams are still going strong. Sam Querrey may still do some damage, other than that it seems to be slim pickings. The stars will really have to align for Isner to win a major in my opinion. With his game, either the US Open or Wimbledon seem to be where he'd have a shot, perhaps if he avoids some great returners. If he faces Nadal at this U.S. Open as is projected, I think Nadal will take it pretty handily. Movement, stamina, and consistency are question marks for him in any match where he's facing a guy that can either break him or edge him out in tiebreakers. His forehand needs to get better and so does his backhand and net play. If his serve is really on and he's winning a lot of easy points and making quick work of his opponents, that's when he can become very dangerous against anyone. His win on clay versus Federer in Davis Cup does show that he can be tough for most any opponent. Murray, Djokovic, and Nadal all return extremely well though and they can all counterpunch and put him on the defensive big time in rallies.
 
B

bullfan

Legend
borg number one said:
Stringertom, you may be right about it being a good while before an American wins a major in men's tennis. I don't see any viable prospects out there right now to be frank. At least the Bryan Brothers and S. Williams are still going strong. Sam Querrey may still do some damage, other than that it seems to be slim pickings. The stars will really have to align for Isner to win a major in my opinion. With his game, either the US Open or Wimbledon seem to be where he'd have a shot, perhaps if he avoids some great returners. If he faces Nadal at this U.S. Open as is projected, I think Nadal will take it pretty handily. Movement, stamina, and consistency are question marks for him in any match where he's facing a guy that can either break him or edge him out in tiebreakers. His forehand needs to get better and so does his backhand and net play. If his serve is really on and he's winning a lot of easy points and making quick work of his opponents, that's when he can become very dangerous against anyone. His win on clay versus Federer in Davis Cup does show that he can be tough for most any opponent. Murray, Djokovic, and Nadal all return extremely well though and they can all counterpunch and put him on the defensive big time in rallies.
Click to expand...

Sadly, I think you over estimate Querrey's chances. He seems to have peaked already. I agree about Isners failings, you expanded on it much better than my succinct assessment. Isner can't count on having a perfect serve for 7 matches.
 
borg number one

borg number one

Legend
bullfan said:
Sadly, I think you over estimate Querrey's chances. He seems to have peaked already. I agree about Isners failings, you expanded on it much better than my succinct assessment. Isner can't count on having a perfect serve for 7 matches.
Click to expand...

Thanks bullfan. Yeah, you maybe right as to Sam Querrey. He showed some glimpses of excellent form a few years ago as he broke into the top 20 and I saw some real upside there, but he has struggled after that. He's bounced back some now and is now back in the top 30. He is just 25 though, so he may still have some very solid tennis from 25-30. He has a big serve and nice kicker too, as does Isner of course. I'm reaching though even with Querrey. Winning a major for him would take a real uptick in his level and possibly for the top guys to fall back significantly. He'd need to make a run like Todd Martin reaching the US Open final before losing to Agassi. It's not easy for even a player like Querrey, who was a top junior. He was going full bore with tennis from probably about 10 to 23 to break into the top 20, basically non-stop. That takes a toll and huge effort, but I'd like to see him do well in the years to follow.
 
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