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Isner's 33 aces aren't enough in loss to Youzhny
Source: Agencies |
September 7, 2010, Tuesday
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JOHN Isner's trip to the US Open ended in the third round and included none of the drama or history he created at Wimbledon.
The 18th-seeded American lost to No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 4-6, then said he didn't think he paid any price physically at Flushing Meadows for all the wear-and-tear his body took at the All England Club during the longest match in tennis history. "I don't think tonight had anything to do with that match, I would say," Isner said.
At Wimbledon in June, Isner won a 70-68 fifth set over Nicolas Mahut in the first round, a match that lasted 183 games over 11 hours, 5 minutes. He played a total of 116 games and 8 hours, 12 minutes in New York.
"I'm not the fastest guy out there, but I didn't feel as explosive. My legs I think just didn't have the bend that I needed to on my serve, on my groundstrokes," he said. "I mean, I wasn't dealt the greatest hand coming into this tournament with really no preparation. So that maybe had something to do with it."
The 2.06-meter Isner lost on Sunday despite pounding 33 aces at up to 144 mph. His biggest problem: 61 unforced errors, 25 more than Youzhny, who reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since he was a semifinalist in 2006.
Youzhny now faces 41st-ranked Tommy Robredo of Spain in the fourth round. Robredo's last two opponents retired, including Michael Llodra on Sunday.
Besides Robredo other Spaniards to advance include world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, No. 8 Fernando Verdasco, No. 10 David Ferrer, and No. 23 Feliciano Lopez.
"Probably the most difficult tournament for us, no?" Nadal said after beating Gilles Simon of France 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. "So that is very important news for Spanish tennis."
With Sunday's five Spaniards joining No. 21 Albert Montanes, who won on Saturday, Spain has six members of the last 16 - tying the record for a country other than the US at the US Open.
"It's always nice to see all the Spanish winning and being in the last rounds, no?" said Verdasco, who eliminated 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Ferrer beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2.
There is only one American woman left, and it's seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams, who struggled with her serve and kept yanking at the hemline of her red, sequin-dotted dress but eventually beat 16th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 7-6(3), 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals here for the 10th time.
Venus next faces reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy, a 6-3, 6-0 winner against 20th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Defending champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium easily got past former No. 1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1 of Serbia. Clijsters will play No. 5 Sam Stosur of Australia, a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (2) winner over No. 12 Elena Dementieva of Russia.
The 18th-seeded American lost to No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 4-6, then said he didn't think he paid any price physically at Flushing Meadows for all the wear-and-tear his body took at the All England Club during the longest match in tennis history. "I don't think tonight had anything to do with that match, I would say," Isner said.
At Wimbledon in June, Isner won a 70-68 fifth set over Nicolas Mahut in the first round, a match that lasted 183 games over 11 hours, 5 minutes. He played a total of 116 games and 8 hours, 12 minutes in New York.
"I'm not the fastest guy out there, but I didn't feel as explosive. My legs I think just didn't have the bend that I needed to on my serve, on my groundstrokes," he said. "I mean, I wasn't dealt the greatest hand coming into this tournament with really no preparation. So that maybe had something to do with it."
The 2.06-meter Isner lost on Sunday despite pounding 33 aces at up to 144 mph. His biggest problem: 61 unforced errors, 25 more than Youzhny, who reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since he was a semifinalist in 2006.
Youzhny now faces 41st-ranked Tommy Robredo of Spain in the fourth round. Robredo's last two opponents retired, including Michael Llodra on Sunday.
Besides Robredo other Spaniards to advance include world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, No. 8 Fernando Verdasco, No. 10 David Ferrer, and No. 23 Feliciano Lopez.
"Probably the most difficult tournament for us, no?" Nadal said after beating Gilles Simon of France 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. "So that is very important news for Spanish tennis."
With Sunday's five Spaniards joining No. 21 Albert Montanes, who won on Saturday, Spain has six members of the last 16 - tying the record for a country other than the US at the US Open.
"It's always nice to see all the Spanish winning and being in the last rounds, no?" said Verdasco, who eliminated 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Ferrer beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2.
There is only one American woman left, and it's seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams, who struggled with her serve and kept yanking at the hemline of her red, sequin-dotted dress but eventually beat 16th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 7-6(3), 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals here for the 10th time.
Venus next faces reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy, a 6-3, 6-0 winner against 20th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Defending champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium easily got past former No. 1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1 of Serbia. Clijsters will play No. 5 Sam Stosur of Australia, a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (2) winner over No. 12 Elena Dementieva of Russia.
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