While Isner focuses on serving aces – a total of 49 – Tomic blames Kyrgios for faking his illness and his injured wrist; as a result the USA win the rubber and the tie
It could have been Australia’s resurrection, taking the USA to the decider (with Hewitt possibly taking to court again), instead Isner displayed a spotless performance and his huge serve (“it’s breath-taking watching him serve the way he did” says Jim Courier at the press conference) against a listless Tomic (“it looked like he was playing possum during the warm up” says Isner at the press conference) who showed intensity only in a few games. Isner was always in control during his serving games and took every opportunity on Tomic’s soft flat balls to bury down Australia’s hope.
A sunny Sunday in Melbourne and perfect conditions for a tennis match with temperature just shy of 30C; the centre court at Kooyong Lawn Tennis club is as crowded as loud, hoping in a comeback by the Aussies, trailing 1-2 after yesterday’s doubles. The stakes are high and the Aussie crowd responded splendidly filling every seat at Kooyong. The Fanatics are chanting and singing and inspiring the rest of the patrons. A few minutes past 11AM the rubber starts, with Isner trying to get the decisive point against Tomic to give USA the victory.
Tomic starts serving well, Isner better. Tomic is a baseline player, but it’s usually Isner to win the medium-length rallies, waiting for a slow sliced backhand by Tomic and then attacking him with an inside out forehand on Tomic’s backhand and closing with a volley. On 2-2 Tomic is up 40-15 but then faces a break point which the American converts with the usual attack on Tomic’s backhand and easy forehand volley. That is basically a set point. Isner keeps on serving brilliantly with 72% of first serve, aces (10 for him in the first set) travelling at 247 km/h and kick serves on the second serve, leaving only 2 points to Tomic on his serve in the first set. Tomic’s ball is usually flat and soft, giving Isner plenty of opportunities to move on the forehand and put pressure on the Aussie. On 5-4 Isner goes up 40-0 and converts the first set point, for a final 6-4 in less than half an hour.
The second set flows very similar, with Tomic losing mobility, and sending some backhands wide. The notorious 7th game is the key: Isner has just changed his racquet. The American passes Tomic with a great forehand along the line passing shot, and a successful attack brings him to 0-30 and then 15-40. The 2 break points are saved by a serve and a forehand unforced error by Isner. Tomic is stiff on his legs and is surprised by a return landing at his feet. A double fault gives the American a third break point, which is saved, but it’s just a matter of time and Tomic again still on his legs sends an easy backhand in the net. USA leads 4-3 and 2 minutes later 5-3 with an ace on a kicked second serve by Isner, who then take the set 6-4 with a trivial error on the net by Tomic which reminds me of my social tennis matches rather than World Group Davis Cup. A total of five points so far for Tomic on Isner’s serve.
Nothing really changes in the third set, despite the Fanatics singing “Eyes of the Tiger” at every point by the Aussie. Tomic does not put any pressure on Isner when returning. His body language suggests he would rather be anywhere else rather than on a tennis court, and during a change of ends says to Hewitt “He [Kyrgios] has faked it twice, sitting down there in Canberra. Bullshit that he’s sick“. Can’t wait for Nick’s reply on Twitter. The accident was discussed at the press conference with Tomic confirming his stand, especially after talking to Kyrgios over the phone after the match “He told me he is still ill but will be better tomorrow and is playing in Indian Wells. If he plays Indian Wells he will lose a lot of my respect […] It’s the same situation as it happened last year […]” Hewitt instead dismisses any doubt “we had a fitness check on Thursday morning and he just was not fit”.
Tomic manages one way or another to hold serve and for the first time goes up 6-5. Then out of nowhere he is up 40-30. That’s not only the first break point of the match, but also a set point. Isner saves it with his serve followed by a forehand winner. Finally you can see intensity in Tomic’s eyes. Tomic gets a second set point, saved by an ace and a fourth, guess what? saved by an ace. Either there is something wrong is the speed camera or Isner aces now at 253 km/h (16 in this set only). However, a backhand passing shot along the line gives the Aussie the set point number 5 which is finally converted thanks to a forehand in the net by Isner. 7-5 Tomic and the match is unexpectedly re-opened. Tomic has made more point on Isner’s serve in that game than in all previous returning games together.
Tomic now shows belief in himself and hold serves to love in 2 consecutive games, but Isner keeps on serving formidably well and pressing from the baseline in case Tomic returns the serve. The tension surges and the central court explodes at every point Tomic makes. It’s 4-4 with 41 aces by Isner so far and 74% of first serve in. Isner though is not as sharp as before when returning Tomic serve, which is often slow but very sliced, sliding away on the grass (a total of 15 aces for him in the rubber). We reach the same situation of the previous set, with Isner serving to stay in the set. This time though he delivers 3 aces in the first three points and then holds serve taking Tomic to a dramatic tie-break which could mean the rubber and tie.
Tomic starts with an ace, followed by a cross court forehand winner to take a 2-0 lead. On 3-1 Isner breaks back: it’s the decisive momentum swing, which the American consolidates with ace n. 48 and a winning serve. In the only real rally of the tie-break a funky bounce makes Tomic losing his rhythm and committing an unforced error, which gives USA the break 4-5. Isner serves an ace but the net machine calls a let … a replica of the previous serve, which Tomic can just touch but cannot control, takes the USA to 6-4: it’s tie point. And guess what? Isner closes it with an ace (n.49), for a final 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 in 2:15 and 3-1 USA.
Isner has been absolutely impressive on serve with 49 aces, 76% of first serve, but the key has been the percentage of points won on second serve: 68% for Isner, only 56% for Tomic, who was never able to put pressure on the American when returning, apart from the 12th game of the third set, and showed lack of energy, mobility and fighting spirit for at least 2 sets and a half. “After the last couple of years it has been massive for us” comments Jim Courier at the press conference “It was a tough match on paper and on the court“.
From Melbourne, Robbie Cappuccio
