John Isner continued his surprise run at the Miami Open by claiming the title against favorite Alexander Zverev to clinch his first Masters 1000 title, beating the German 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4.
The matchup between Alexander Zverev and John Isner did not disappoint and proved to be the thrilling final that these two friends who grew up training together put on quite a show for the South Florida crowd. ‘Sascha’ Zverev came into the final the dominant of the two, having won two of his previous Masters 1000 finals just last year against the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, ranked No. 4, and frankly the younger and fresher of the two.
Isner, at age 32, someone who Zverev looked up to training in FL alongside older brother Mischa, had boasted only ATP 250 titles before, although he had made three Masters 1000 finals in the past. But going into the Miami Open, he was the best tennis of his life, beating big names Juan Martin del Potro, Hyeon Chung, and Marin Cilic along the way. Although Zverev owned their previous head-to-head, the American seemed the more relaxed of the two and was able to dig deep and find a way to beat Zverev for the first time, to secure the biggest win of his career. Having the pro-American crowd on his side the entire match didn’t hurt, either.
“This atmosphere was electric, it was unbelievable, you can’t replicate moments like this,” Isner said afterward, via the Miami Herald. “I’m at the latter part of my career, and this was the best moment of my career, and you guys made that possible.”
The 32-year-old spoke about what the victory over such a great rival meant.
"“Sascha would kind of follow his older brother Mischa around, and at some point, one of my coaches told me, ‘Watch out for this kid,’ ” Isner said about practicing with him when they were younger. “Then I started practicing with him when he was 14, 15 years old, and he’s beating me at 15 years old. I’m, like, ‘Oh, my gosh. He’s the real deal.’ “It’s just kind of unique that someone that I was so much older than and practicing with when he was 14, 15, is now one of the best players in the world.”"
The world No. 17 rode the wave of fans chanting “U-S-A!” and is the first American man to win the title here since 2010, when Andy Roddick defeated Tomas Berdych in two sets.
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Isner joined compatriot Sloane Stephens, the winner of the ladies title the day before, who won her match against young sensation and French Open champ Jelena Ostapenko, in two sets. The last time an American man and woman swept both finals was back in 2004, with Serena Williams and again Andy Roddick taking home the Miami trophies.
But the American dominance didn’t end there. Both men’s and ladies double championships went to the countrymen as well. No surprise with the dynamic men’s team of Mike and Bob Bryan, perhaps the best doubles team ever, winning their final. But American—and one of the four talented Americans who swept the U.S. Open semifinal spots last year—CoCo Vandeweghe and Australian teammate Ashley Barty took home the women’s doubles title.
Not bad for team U.S.A, after years of critics asking when the next American tennis players will come along. They all gave a pretty definitive answer during the Miami Open.