Isner Wins Easily at U.S. Open as Wimbledon Semifinalist Janowicz is Ousted

John Isner is America’s best hope for a deep run in the men’s draw at this year’s U.S. Open, and today, the pressure didn’t seem to phase him as he easily defeated his Italian opponent Filippo Volandri in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3. Isner needed only 16 minutes to win the first set using his monster serve to overpower his opponent. Since Isner’s first-round loss in Montreal, he has been on a tear of late, winning his next five matches (beating the likes of Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro, Richard Gasquet and Milos Raonic) en route to the Cincinnati final, where he pushed Rafael Nadal in a narrow 7-6(8), 7-6(3) loss. Up next for Isner is a matchup with Gael Monfils of France in the second round after Monfils’ 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 win over Adrian Ungur.

Jerzy Janowicz was the talk of Wimbledon earlier this summer, making a surprise run to the semifinals, but today in Flushing Meadows,  he didn’t fair as well in a straight sets opening round loss to Argentine qualifier Maximo Gonzalez, 4-6, 4-6, 2-6. Janowicz showed little life throughout the match, as Gonzalez took full advantage. The 14th-seeded Janowicz took an injury timeout for a trainer to massage his back, threw a racket and argued with the chair umpire in the loss. Janowicz fell in the first round at Flushing Meadows last year in his only previous appearance in the U.S. Open. He had 11 double-faults and 53 unforced errors Tuesday. 

Also in action Tuesday was the 10th-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada who fired 28 aces in beating Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano, 6-3, 7-6(8/6), 6-3, to book a second-round date with Spain’s Pablo Andujar, who dumped Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Raonic set the tone early with a 141 mile per hour ace to open the contest, and kept Fabbiano on the run throughout much of the afternoon.

"I think I served well," said Raonic. "I have been focusing on that a little bit, especially after Cincinnati. Beyond that, everything was getting better, but just with matches I think it’s going to get better. I just have to make the opportunities and convert them."

Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

In Tuesday afternoon action, the 10th-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada fired 28 aces in beating Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano, 6-3, 7-6(8/6), 6-3

American John Isner will next face Gael Monfils of France in the second round after his Tuesday afternoon victory