Isner Sets Record for Fastest Serve

John Isner fired a 157-mph serve in the third set of his win Saturday, setting a record for the fastest serve in an ATP Tour or Davis Cup match. Isner led the U.S. team to a Davis Cup victory over Australia.

Isner ices tie for USA

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: An impressive serving performance from John Isner secured the USA’s passage to the quarterfinals of Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, ending the fight-back of Aussie No.1 Bernard Tomic 64 64 57 76(4) at Kooyong. Ace number 49 finally iced America’s 3-1 victory over Australia.
On a specially laid grass court, at the Australian Davis Cup fortress of bygone years, this was a hugely satisfying win for the Americans, their first over Australia since 1997, first Down Under since 1982 and first on grass since 1979 at the old White City stadium in Sydney.
In contrast, the tie was a heartbreaker for first-time captain Lleyton Hewitt, who returned to the court in a heroic effort in doubles with Davis Cup rookie John Peers against the mighty Bob and Mike Bryan, and contemplated throwing himself into the fray of a fifth rubber, if required, in place of the out-of-form Sam Groth. In truth, the Aussies were on the back foot since the withdrawal of Nick Kyrgios with illness.
Nor was this the first time an installed grass court has backfired for the hosts - the 2001 final loss to France still fresh in Aussie memories.
In the battle of tall timber No.1s, Isner came out the fresher after heatwave conditions on Friday and made an imposing start. The 30-year-old was unplayable on serve - firing 10 aces and conceding just two points on his delivery in the 27-minute first set. Many of his rocket serves reared up at head-height for the 196cm Tomic. Isner was also the one forcing the play and venturing forward against a passive, flatfooted opponent.
The second set was a replay of the first. “He’s playing tactically perfect,” commented Todd Woodbridge of Isner, who not only served big but clocked forceful forehands, curling winners and angled volleys, even teasing Tomic with a drop-shot-lob winning combo. He broke at 4-3, leaving Tomic to vent at captain Hewitt on the changeover, while having his right wrist taped.
Tomic was also showing the effects of his exhausting four-set Friday rubber over Jack Sock, played in the hottest part of the day. The struggling Aussie had to lift, and he did. At 6-5 in the third, Tomic found himself at 30-all for the first time on the Isner serve, then with a bonus set point. It would take a fifth set point - and surviving a 253km Isner thunderbolt - but from nowhere Tomic pocketed the set 75.
Now the Aussie’s bearing and dander were up, while Isner was pressing and making errors, especially on the forehand. They hurtled to the fourth-set tiebreak. Tomic had the mini-break at 2-0 when Isner chose to stay back and rally, allowing the Aussie to step into a crosscourt forehand winner. But the American showed grit to get back on even terms when he risked all on his faltering forehand and unleashed an inside-out winner. He fired an ace next point for 3-3 and didn’t look back.
“I knew he was going to make a push and he did,” Isner said of the mercurial Tomic. “Not much about his game is standard. I don’t want to say [but] maybe he was playing possum a little there. At the same time I was still serving extremely well.”
“I was fighting, [but] he was serving ridiculous,” said a subdued Tomic. “Not much you can do, just try guess the right side.” The wrist injury he’d played with since the Australian Open flared up at the worst time. “I had so much pain in my wrist but I kept thinking about Davis Cup,” said the world No.20. “No pain would stop me playing today. But I couldn’t really serve fast - [beyond] 170km. It’s a shame.”
“In the end, Bernard was a little unlucky,” noted captain Hewitt. “He was holding his serve easier in the fourth set and had a mini-break in the tiebreaker as well. But John stepped up.”
“Breathtaking to watch John serve the way he did,” said US captain Jim Courier. “After the last couple of years [first-round losses to Great Britain], this is massive for us. It was a tough match-up on paper and in reality. You can’t take any of these for granted.”
Courier’s men were rewarded for their arduous travel and exacting preparation. The Aussies carried form into the tie but the Americans are seasoned, cool pros. Spearhead Isner lost just one set; the Bryans juggernaut rolled on and only rookie Sock lost a rubber, though impressively in tough conditions.
Team USA faces Croatia or Belgium in the quarterfinals, with both delivering a welcome a home tie.

Source: DavisCup.com

Australia, United States Level in Davis Cup Tie

Australia, the 28-time champion, is level at 1-1 with 32-time winner United States on Friday.
World No. 11 John Isner secured the opening rubber for the United States by hitting 20 aces to beat Sam Groth 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 50 minutes. "It was a very, very good performance for me and certainly I’ve played in a lot of matches in my career where I’ve struggled on return, but I think today I was pretty solid."
Later, Bernard Tomic improved to 16-3 in singles rubbers for Australia by breaking a three-match losing streak against Jack Sock, competing in his second Davis Cup, 7-6(2), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and 24 minutes. "I hadn't beaten Sock before so I knew that it was going to be tough," said Tomic.
Lleyton Hewitt, who is making his debut as Australia's Davis Cup captain, said, "Bernie did really well. Right from the start he came out serving great, hitting his spots really well."
Australia's Groth and John Peers are scheduled to play Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in Saturday's doubles rubber. "Bob and Mike Bryan seem to be at an advantage in the historical count of doubles in Davis Cup, but every day is a different day," said US captain Jim Courier. "They’ve played awfully well. We feel confident in them, but... we don’t take anything for granted, we’ll be ready to go."
Hewitt added, "The Bryans obviously are the favourites tomorrow in the doubles. But I still think our guys have got a good shot at it, and then on the last day anything can happen."

Source: ATP World Tour

Milos Raonic, John Isner to Play Doubles Together in Indian Wells

Returners beware! Two of tennis' best servers will be doubles partners at the first Masters 1000 event of the season next month in Indian Wells, as Milos Raonic and John Isner will enter the doubles draw together.
Two of tennis’ biggest servers will be teaming up at the season’s first ATP Masters 1000 event. American John Isner and Canada’s Milos Raonic will be playing doubles next month in Indian Wells.

Returners Beware

Isner and Raonic boast two of the biggest serves in the modern game. In 2012, Raonic struck what is now the fifth fastest serve in tennis history at 155.3 MPH, while Isner ranks not far behind at 11th with 149.9 MPH. Both men rely on their massive serves to win singles matches, and have ridden their serves to the edge of the top ten. Isner is currently ranked 11th, with Raonic not far behind at 13th.

Since Raonic broke onto the tour in 2011, he and Isner have been battling for the title of best server in the world, along with Ivo Karlovic. Isner and Raonic finished first and second in total aces in 2012 and 2013, with Isner edging Raonic both times, by as little as three aces (in 2012).
The pairing of Raonic and Isner is a terrifying prospect for any opponent. There will be no easy return game for any opponents. Doubles is a game a quick strikes, and the Canadian/American pairing will have a monopoly on short points. Opposing teams will have to take advantages of their few chances, or will have to bring their A-game to tiebreaks.

A Recipe for Success?

Both Raonic and Isner are primarily singles players, without a ton of experience in doubles. Isner has spent more times in doubles, actually winning three titles, although his last title came back in 2011. Raonic has reached one doubles final in his career, back in 2011 with Robin Haase in Halle.

Isner’s doubles success has always come with a big hitting opponent. Two of his three titles, along with all three of his Masters 1000 finals, came with fellow power-hitting American Sam Querrey.
Despite their relative lack of doubles success, both men have done well in the past in Indian Wells. Last year, Raonic claimed one of the biggest wins on his career over Rafael Nadal on route to the semifinals. Isner reached his first Masters 1000 final in California back in 2012, upsetting Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. If there is a venue where the men could do well, Indian Wells is a great choice.

Source: vevel.com

Guido Pella Saves 3 Match Points to Beat John Isner

Pella upsets Isner in first round at Rio Open

Guido Pella advances in second round

Argentina’s Guido Pella has withstood a barrage of 31 aces to send No. 4 seed John Isner crashing out in the opening round of the Rio Open on Monday night, saving three match points in the 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-6(8) upset. The 25 year old won just 17 per cent of points on Isner’s first serve but still found a way past the World No. 12 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.
He failed to convert any of his four break point opportunities in the three-hour, two-minute affair but did well to fend off 10 of 11 break points. After opening his season reaching the quarter-finals in Auckland and fourth round at the Australian Open, Isner fell to 0-2 on his South American swing, having fallen to Dusan Lajovic in his first match in Buenos Aires last week.