John Isner, the highest-ranked American, berated the chair umpire, smashed his racket and departed the U.S. Open draw in disarray early Monday morning as he lost a five-set, three-hour match to Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The match finished at 2:25 a.m. – the second latest in U.S. Open history.
Kohlschreiber, the No. 19 seed, hit Isner with combination shots and a variety of looks in Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to the quarterfinal, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“I played great,” said Kohlschreiber, who earned his first victory over a top 10 opponent. “It was amazing to play here.”
Isner’s effort was flagging from the first point. He let his arms hang low, and played uninspiring tennis starting late Sunday night and continuing into Monday morning. He absorbed body serves from Kohlschrieber, and responded with little energy.
Kohlschreiber, a crafty player, moved Isner, who stands 6-foot-9, around the court as he collected points with passing shots.
With Isner’s loss, Andy Roddick, seeded No. 20 and set to retire once he plays his last match at the Open, is the one of only two American men left in the field. Roddick will play Argentine Juan Martin del Potro Tuesday and Mardy Fish faces top-seeded Roger Federer Monday.
Isner, seeded ninth, managed to re-energize as the match grew older, but could not squelch the German’s aggressive surges.
Isner’s signature serve kept him in the match. He collected 22 aces to Kohlschreiber’s five, but he also melted under the pressure. Called for a foot fault, he eventually vented to the umpire in the fifth set, then smashed his racket multiple times, leaving it in tatters. He received a point penalty for that display.
King of the tiebreaker, Isner is no stranger to extended play. In 2010, he won the longest match ever played, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7-9), 7-6(7-3) 70-68. It lasted 11 hours over three days on Court 18 at Wimbledon.
There was no such relief at the Open Monday. In front of a scant crowd, Isner crumbled.
The crafty German, tracking down drop shots and creating opportunities for himself, left Isner fatigued, his legs unable to carry him home. When he walked off, Isner did so slowly.