I don’t mind if Isner wanted to change his shirt and even his shorts at the end of the second set. To change his ankle braces and take a 10 minute break at 1 set all seems crazy. The ATP, ITF and individual tournaments/umpires need to find a way to prevent this sort of thing.

July 23rd, 2011 at 3:33 pm

But Dan, if Rafa can waste time by pretending to be injured, anyone can do it :)

July 24th, 2011 at 6:51 am

almagro would be very happy if it is only clay throughout the year.

Lets see what he can do to simon.

July 24th, 2011 at 8:08 am

almagro, he hits a great shot that leaves simon scrambling but does not move to the net to finish the point. The commentator says that is the reason he does not excel on hard courts.

Simon counter punching is exceptional. nothing goes past him at the moment.

July 24th, 2011 at 8:54 am

simon took the first set. he was 0-40 down twice in this set..almagro could not capitalize.

almagro needs to go to the net and finish those easy put away to have a chance the commentator says. I agree.

July 24th, 2011 at 9:08 am

almagro strikes back

July 24th, 2011 at 10:09 am

awww sweet, i did not know simon has a little kid. congrats to simon. he was the stable one today. almagro should learn to move forward imo.

great match :)

July 24th, 2011 at 10:52 am

THX for update kimmi. You gotta love Simon, happy for him winning the tourney and earning some $ for the bebe.

July 24th, 2011 at 11:01 am

Here is something the ATP should fix. The next slam is on a hard court. The clay court event in Europe is worth 500 rankings points and the Atlanta event is worth 250. I think they should have a preferred surface leading into the slams. If you play off of that surface the event is at best worth 250. From the end of Miami through the FO – clay is preferred. From the end of the FO through Newport, grass is preferred. From the end of Newport through the USO, hard courts are favored. The first weeks of the season through the AO hard courts are preferred. USO – season ending and AO – Indian Wells there would be no surface preference. Computer points not prize money (US Open Series has not brought the big names over prior to Canada) could motivate some focus on building logically toward the season at hand.

July 24th, 2011 at 12:50 pm

I am not accusing Isner of trying to throw his opponent. He apparently sweats a lot. I can see needing to change shirt and shorts. However, if he is sweating so much that his ankle braces and tape job need fixing over 10 minutes, it seems preposterous for the other guy’s concentration. Also, John is looking more fit, but a 10 minute break indoors during a heat wave can’t hurt Isner’s chances moving forward.

July 24th, 2011 at 12:52 pm

Dan, I think that’s unfair. Rafa had his foot taped at Wimbledon. (kimberly will confirm), and he took 6 minutes to have it retaped, much to the commentators annoyance. If the world no. 1 (as then) can do it, then surely, so can Isner. The trainer came onto the court and retaped it. What was rafa supposed to do if it was digging into his foot? Presumably it had the same effect on Isner?

You can’t just change the rules for one player.

July 24th, 2011 at 2:22 pm

Atlanta final is on. cheering for JIsner. wanna see how his return game is going, people are saying its improved

July 24th, 2011 at 3:24 pm

hmmm, not bad isner. was in most of mardy’s service games, broke him once and held on to take the first set
groundies looking a bit more… determined from isner

July 24th, 2011 at 3:50 pm

wow, just tuned in and isner is on fire. up a set and a break in the second. did not expect this, i didn’t give him much of a chance over fish..good for him.

July 24th, 2011 at 3:58 pm

oh, i was speaking too soon. fish breaks back.

July 24th, 2011 at 4:04 pm

hey,kimmi. fish is a little frustrated. challenges going isner’s way and maybe mardy making more mistakes than he wants to

July 24th, 2011 at 4:13 pm

at least that was the case a few minutes ago when i started typing that ;)

July 24th, 2011 at 4:14 pm

okay, well it wouldn’t be a fish/isner match without a TB.

July 24th, 2011 at 4:37 pm

wow, fish saved 2 match point..go fish!

July 24th, 2011 at 4:46 pm

ah!

July 24th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

wow! from down 4-6, fish wins 4 straights points to take the second set. what a come back, sure isner must be mad

July 24th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

fish with an early break in the third. isner must still be thinking about those match point..

July 24th, 2011 at 5:02 pm

bummer, fish broke and then held in about a minute!
i hope john can put the mp’s behind him and break back in this set. go JI

July 24th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

balle de break!

July 24th, 2011 at 5:18 pm

awww, isner had two break points and couldn’t convert. one was an ace not much to do about that

July 24th, 2011 at 5:21 pm

thats it. isner lost his chances. double faults to give a second break.

happy for fish. go finish him

July 24th, 2011 at 5:26 pm

bollocks! JI df’s on break point down, now mardy serving for title.
getting waiter service of ice towel and banana from ball kid, that kid was quick on top of things!

July 24th, 2011 at 5:26 pm

repeat of last year.
congrats to fish, i guess he is #1 american, its only fitting he got the title. but isner was so close!
ugh, so painful when the loser had match points

July 24th, 2011 at 5:31 pm

congrats to fish. number 1 seed winning title..exactly what it should be :)

July 24th, 2011 at 5:31 pm