ATP Atlanta Tennis Results: Mardy Fish Beats John Isner in Three Sets

Mardy Fish came back from two championship points to beat John Isner and take home the Atlanta Tennis Championships title. Down a set and down 5-1 in a second-set tiebreaker, Fish looked toast. He stormed back by mixing strong net play and superior back line volleys to beat the 6-foot-9 Isner 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2.

Isner beat Belgian Gilles Muller to reach the finals, and took the first set the only way he knows how — with near unhittable serves. Once he broke Fish in the first set, he went in cruise control to take it and give himself a 1-0 lead. The two Americans were facing each other in a rematch of last year’s final, which Fish also won.

In the second sit, Fish had a 6-5 lead when Isner hit the best shot of the match, a forehand winner from the baseline to force a tiebreak. Running on adrenaline from the winner, Isner stormed in front 5-1, poised to take the title in straight sets. Fish stormed back, winning six of the next seven points to tie the match.

In the third set, Fish was reinvigorated, running like a madman to cover all angles. Isner was the polar opposite. After Fish broke him in the first set, clinched by a backhand slice Isner terribly mishit that didn’t even reach the net, Isner appeared to give up. Fish took the next set at love, with Isner only bothering to move from side to side between points. On game point, he watched Fish’s serve go by, along with his chances at the title.

Isner managed only two games in the third set as Fish defended his title. Isner had problems with cramps and took 10 minutes between the second and third set to switch ankle braces. These two are the future of American men’s tennis, along with semifinalist Ryan Sweeting, and it’s promising that they’re raising each other’s games to this championship level.