Isner Ousted by Istomin in Memphis

February 20, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
John_Isner_02_13
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

World number 63-ranked Denis Istomin defeated third-seeded American John Isner 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn. Istomin outserved Isner, winning 86 percent of his service points. Istomin broke Isner three times to clinch the upset in just over an hour, evening their FedEx ATP Head2Head series to a 1-1 mark.

”It is very disappointing.” Isner said. ”I just went out there and laid an egg really. It’s hard to explain. I guess sometimes it happens. You go out there and don’t play too well.”

Isner said it is representative of his recent play. He said it wasn’t necessarily any particular part of his game.

”It’s everything. Maybe a lot between my ears too," said Isner. "I’m just not playing too well right now. I’ve been in this situation before. I’ve just got to work my way out of it. It seems like I am so far away from where I want to be right now.”

Isner’s fourth-seeded countryman Sam Querrey fared better, defeating Alejandro Falla for the second straight week with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Querrey, the 2010 champion, won 52 percent of his return points to advance in 58 minutes. The American also beat Falla in his Memphis opener in 2012.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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