John Isner has ended his title drought by taking the Newport Hall of Fame Championships. Isner defeated first-time ATP finalist and grass court specialist Matthew Ebden 6-3, 7-6 for the win.
Isner played a terrific tournament in which he did not lose a set nor see his serve broken. His final opponent, Ebden, gave him his closest battle by winning nine games and taking the 6’10 American to a second set tiebreak, but Isner was not to be denied.
Isner proved ruthless with his break point chances in the first set, breaking on his lone chance. The second set was a closer affair as Ebden managed to survived a tough ninth game service hold to at least reach the tiebreak. Isner holds one of the best all-time ATP records in tiebreaks though, and the 29 year-old Aussie was unable to buck the trend as Isner sealed the title 7-4.
It is Isner’s first title since he defeated Marcos Baghdatis for the Atlanta title in 2015, an event that gets underway tomorrow. It is the third time that Isner has won this event having also been successful in 2011 when he defeated Olivier Rochus, and 2013 when he defeated Lleyton Hewitt.
Isner will next play in the BB&T Atlanta Open where he is the the second seed. Isner enjoys a first round bye as one of the top four seeds and will play either Bjorn Fratangelo, whom he beat in the Newport semi-finals, or Canadian Vasek Pospisil.
Isner had struggled through the first half of the season, seeing his ranking drop out of the Top 20. The American summer hard court swing is traditionally the time of year that he peaks. It looks as if the player that fans affectionately refer to as ‘Big John’ is going to have a big summer.
