Unseeded American
John Isner served his way to his first career ATP title on Saturday at the ATP stop in
Auckland, saving a match point before beating France's
Arnaud Clement 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(2) to win the Auckland Open.
Isner and Clement between them defeated six of the eight seeds in the event.
The 24-year-old Isner fought off a match point in the 12th game of the final set, then ran away with the tiebreak.
It was Isner's first final since 2007 at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in
Washington where he was appearing in just his second tour-level event. Isner won five straight third-set tiebreaks before falling to
Andy Roddick in the final.
"I am a much better player now than I was in Washington 2007," Isner said prior to the final. "It has been over two years since I lost that final to Andy Roddick, so I have gained some experience during this time."
