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Heading to the US Open with ten tournaments in his legs in 2021, world no. 22 John Isner hoped for another good campaign at the home Major where he scored 30 wins since 2007. After an early Wimbledon exit, John claimed 13 victories in the following four events, winning the title in Atlanta and reaching the semis in Toronto.
Still, those results will remain in the shadow of an early US Open exit, as Isner failed to pass the first obstacle in New York for the second straight year! Facing Brandon Nakashima for the third time this summer, the more experienced American suffered a 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 loss in just under two and a half hours.
John was two points away from winning both tie breaks but could not produce his best tennis when it mattered the most, allowing the youngster to build a massive advantage and seal the deal with a single break in the third set.
John Isner lost in the US Open first round to Brandon Nakashima.
Mighty disappointed, John said that he still feels good about his season, not playing much and standing around the 20th spot. Also, he wished to return to the US Open next year, not making retiring plans and wanting to extend his career for at least another year.
In the last question, John was asked about Novak Djokovic's quest towards a calendar Grand Slam and was not ready to discuss it at that moment, providing a short answer and leaving the press room. The 20-year-old Nakashima took down Isner in Los Cabos and repeated that in New York on Monday, dropping only 16 points behind the initial shot and getting broken once.
John faced five break chances and suffered two breaks, enough to propel the youngster through after losing ground when it mattered the most. Brandon grabbed a break already in the second game and forged a 4-1 advantage before John pulled the break back in game seven thanks to a deep return.
Isner led 5-2 in the tie break before wasting it and playing a terrible volley at 7-7 that cost him the opener. Nakashima forced Isner's mistake at the net at 6-6 in the second set tie break and closed it in the next point to forge a massive advantage.
Serving at 3-4 in set number three, John netted a routine volley to suffer a break before Brandon sealed the deal with a forehand winner in the next one.