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Tuesday 3 april 2018
MIAMI OPEN way." lost his final three service
Continued from Page 17 He played an almost flaw- points in the tiebreaker.
Isner's win came in the last less semifinal to beat Juan But he gave Zverev only
singles match on Key Bis- Martin del Potro, and was three break-point chances,
cayne before the Miami just good enough against and Isner's serve was at its
Open moves next year to the fourth-seeded Zverev, best down the stretch. He
the NFL Dolphins' stadium. a precocious 20-year-old made 83 percent of his first
Seeded 14th, Isner became German who was bidding serves in the final set.
the first American man to for his third Masters 1000 Meanwhile, baseline errors
win the tournament since title in the past 12 months. by Zverev mounted.
Andy Roddick in 2010. Isner The Key Biscayne finale "I think I missed more shots
joined Sloane Stephens , drew a near-capacity today than I did in the
who won the women's title crowd, and the atmo- whole tournament," the
Saturday, for the first U.S. sphere was electrifying at young German said. "I
sweep in the event since times. When Isner hit a fore- played bad from the base-
2004, when the champions hand winner during a tense line, but it's not easy against
were Roddick and Serena final game of the second John. You always feel the
Williams. set, he whirled his index fin- pressure that if you get bro-
The start of the last game ger as he looked around at ken, you might lose the set."
was delayed by the the roaring crowd, coaxing Mindful of that small margin
crowd's chants of "U-S-A!" John Isner returns to Alexander Zverev, of Russia, during the final the decibel level still higher. for error when he lost serve
at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Sunday, April 1, 2018, in
Isner then held at love, and Key Biscayne, Fla. Two points later, when to fall behind 5-4 in the final
on the final three points he Associated Press Zverev won a wild ex- set, Zverev let his frustration
smacked aces, giving him change with both players boil over.
18 for the match and 79 for tory over Nicolas Mahut at even him because he ar- at the net, he waved both He slammed his racket to
the tournament. Wimbledon in 2010. He pos- rived with a record of 1-6 arms toward the stands, in- the concrete, picked it up
"I was just ready for this mo- sesses perhaps the game's this year, including losses to spiring another crescendo and slammed it again, and
ment," he said. "I've been biggest serve but has never players with rankings of 60, from the fans. then tossed it gently to the
here three other times, and reached a Grand Slam 62, 78 and 91. Isner's serve allowed him stands as a mangled sou-
I've lost three times on this semifinal, largely because "I couldn't have scripted to overcome inconsistent venir.
stage. I was just ready for a lack of mobility makes it this," Isner said. "I was play- returning, a succession of When Isner sealed the vic-
it." difficult for him to stay in ral- ing very poorly. But that's botched volleys and shaky tory four points later, he
Isner is best known as ten- lies. the way tennis goes. You play at crunch time. He also tossed his racket — but
nis' marathon man thanks The string of victories on gain a little confidence, converted only two of 12 in celebration. Then it was
to his 70-68 fifth-set vic- Key Biscayne surprised and things start to roll your break-point chances and time to dance.q