Isner's Career Ends With Two Losses in Tiebreakers at US Open; Stearns Advances, Michelsen Falls in Four Sets; Eight US Girls, Two US Boys Advance to Final Round of US Open Juniors Qualifying
John Isner's time as a professional tennis player is over, after the former University of Georgia star lost both his US Open singles and doubles matches today in final set tiebreakers.
Isner, who announced last week that the US Open would be his final tournament, led fellow wild card Michael Mmoh by two sets and had match point with Mmoh serving at 4-5 in the fifth set before falling 3-6, 4-6. 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(7). When the match went to the deciding tiebreaker after nearly four hours, there was a sense it was a fitting conclusion; that Mmoh won it wasn't the Hollywood script version, but he played well when it mattered, and tennis, like all sports, is full of bittersweet endings.
Isner returned to the court for his first round doubles match with Jack Sock, who is also retiring after this tournament, and they fell to Robert Galloway(Wofford) and Albano Olivetti of France 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3) late this afternoon.
The ATP spoke with five current players--Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz, JJ Wolf, Reilly Opelka and Steve Johnson--about what he meant to them personally and to the game in this article, which also contains a full rundown of all his accomplishments on the ATP Tour. Johnson spoke of how Isner's pro success, after competing for four years at the University of Georgia, inspired him:
"John Isner is someone that I've looked up to since I was a kid, going into college. Following someone that took the same path that I did to get to the professional tours was super meaningful to me. John, even at such a young age in my professional career, he always helped mentor me, gave me advice, things that he did, things that worked for him and whatnot. So, for me, he was somebody that I first and foremost looked up to and took his advice. It was very serious to me, because he had done it and done it successfully."
It's difficult to overstate what John Isner has meant to college tennis as a development pathway. His immediate success on the ATP Tour, his visibility as the top-ranked American throughout the last decade and his longevity all provided ample evidence that timetables vary and not all champions need to emerge as teenagers. Yes, his serve, arguably the best in tennis history, was an advantage few players have ever possessed, but the time he spent in college learning how to use it, and honing his competitive instincts was crucial to the player he became.
As one Georgia Bulldog exits the ATP stage, an almost-Georgia Bulldog, Alex Michelsen, has burst on to it. The 19-year-old Californian, who committed to Georgia and signed a National Letter of Intent, turned pro after his first Challenger title and an ATP final this summer. A wild card into the US Open, Michelsen won his first round match in straight sets Tuesday, but in his first match that went more than three sets today, he lost to No. 23 seed Nicolas Jarry of Chile 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Michelsen and Jarry were evenly matched throughout, but Jarry appeared more comfortable in the third and fourth sets, as Michelsen appeared to tire. Jarry had 12 aces and a positive winner to unforced error ratio; surprisingly, he also had the more vocal crowd support, with a loud contingent of Chilean fans on his side throughout the nearly three-hour match.
2022 NCAA champion Peyton Stearns has reached the third round of a slam for the second time this year after a quick win today. The former Texas Longhorn defeated Clara Tauson of Denmark 6-3, 6-0 in 68 minutes and will face unseeded Katie Boulter of Great Britain Saturday.
2023 NCAA champion Ethan Quinn(Georgia) picked up a win today in mixed doubles, with Ashlyn Krueger. The 19-year-olds defeated Asia Muhammad and Jackson Withrow 7-6(4), 6-4.
2014 and 2016 NCAA singles champion Danielle Collins(Virginia) and her partner Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine upset No. 2 seeds Elise Mertens of Belgium and Storm Hunter of Australia 6-4, 6-3.
Reigning NCAA doubles champions Fiona Crawley and Carson Tanguilig(North Carolina) lost to Irina Khromacheva of Russia and Daria Saville of Australia 6-2, 6-2.
At the qualifying for the US Open Junior Championships in the Bronx, eight US girls are through to the final round of qualifying, while two US boys are still alive for a main draw berth.
Wild cards Thea Frodin, Annika Penickova and Julieta Pareja all beat seeds in straight sets. The other five US girls advancing are Jessica Bernales, who was the last player receiving entry, Shannon Lam, Olivia Center, Katie Rolls[10] and Anya Murthy[11].
The boys advancing today were wild card Calvin Baierl and Andrew Delgado. The tournament referee has announced that there will be a lucky loser into the boys main draw.
Matches begin at 10 a.m., with live scoring available on usopen.org.
Thursday's second round matches results of Americans:Madison Keys[17] d. Yanina Wickmayer[LL](BEL) 6-1, 6-2
Jessica Pegula[3] d. Patricia Tig(ROU) 6-3, 6-1
Daria Kasatkina[13](RUS) d. Sofia Kenin 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Greet Minnen[Q](BEL) d. Sachia Vickery[Q] 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Peyton Stearns d. Clara Tauson(DEN) 6-3, 6-0
Michael Mmoh[WC] d. John Isner[WC] 3-6, 4-6. 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(7),
Nicolas Jarry(CHI)[23] d. Alex Michelsen[WC] 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
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