One of the bigger upsets at the U.S. Open over the weekend was the five set defeat Off Wing favorite John Isner hung on Andy Roddick on Saturday. On Sunday, much of the coverage seemed to be expressing some shock over Isner's 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5) victory, but if you were watching closely when the two met at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in 2007 and 2009, perhaps the outcome wasn't all that surprising.
If you were at Legg Mason in 2007, it's more or less impossible to forget Isner's charmed run that ended with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) defeat at the hands of Roddick in the tournament final. Even though he was victorious that day, Roddick readily admitted that he had trouble handling the serve of the 6'9" Isner, describing it to the press gaggle as like facing off against a normal player who was standing two feet inside the service line.
The import was pretty clear: if Isner could improve the other areas of his game to go along with his monster serve, he could become a force to be reckoned with.
Fast-forward to last month: Isner and Roddick faced off again at Legg Mason, this time in the semifinal. And again, while Roddick was able to hold on for a 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5 win, most folks watching that day concluded that Roddick had barely escaped with a victory. After missing most of the start of the tour this season with mono, it was clear by that time that Isner's game had improved by leaps and bounds.
Up next for Isner is a fourth round match with Fernando Verdasco.
UPDATE: This won't be the year for John, as Verdasco dropped him in 4 sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Still, he did himself proud.
Tags: Andy Roddick, John Isner, Legg Mason Tennis Classic, U.S. Open
