John Isner managed overcame Fernando Verdasco in a marathon three-set match, beating him 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 in three hours and 13 minutes on the brand new GNP Seguros Stadium Court at the Mexican Open.
The American served 29 aces and hit 51 winners while his Spanish opponent hit 27 unforced errors in what was the second-longest match to ever take place at the tournament. In the decider Isner battled back from a break down and saved a match point before going on to take the win.
“It was a weird match and at the beginning, it was really swirly and kinda tough for both of us,” said Isner. “Then the wind stopped and I think the level picked up. He (Verdasco) was slinging his forehand which made it very tough. He blinked at 5-3 and I was able to capitalize”.
In the first set, both players had no issues holding serve and at 4-4 it was Spaniard with three chances to break but the Greensboro, North Carolina native saved all three and held serve.
At 6-5, the world number 23 earned two set points and pounced on Verdasco serve with a great volley winner to take the first set.
After holding serve in the opening game of the second set the American went on the attack again earning two more breakpoints but this time was denied by the world number 152.
At 4-3, Isner had two more looks at a breakpoint set up by his forehand but again failed to convert as the Spaniard was able to hold his serve and the second set was decided by a tiebreak.
Verdasco was able to break serve on the first point with a stunning backhand return winner crosscourt and jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three more passing shot winners.
Those breaks were enough for Verdasco to serve out the second set and send the match into a deciding third set.
Carrying the momentum of winning the second set the 38-year-old held serve and broke Isner’s serve to take an early 2-0 lead in the decider and it stayed on serve until 5-2 with the Spaniard looking to close out the match.
He earned a match point on Isner’s serve but was snubbed and the American was able to hold serve. The following game Isner came back to life by breaking the Spaniard with one of his forehand winners to go back on serve at 5-4.
During the changeover, Verdasco called the trainer and took a medical timeout to have work done on his lower back and was furious but he decided to continue playing.
The third set was decided by a tiebreaker but this time it was the American breaking serve the very first point. From there it was extremely tight until 4-3 when Isner broke serve again. He served out the match in style using his big serve to close out the match and sent the Spaniard packing.
After the match in his on-court interview, Isner gave his thoughts on the end of the match.
” To be totally honest I was down and out and things weren’t going my way,” he said. “He was playing better but I sensed he got nervous and I started attacking his short balls with my forehand and from there I think I played very well”.
Isner will either face the number six seed Cameron Norrie or the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the second round.
