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BSP-01
TENNIS-ATP-USA
Top seeded Isner serves up his fifth Atlanta title
LOS ANGELES, July 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – John Isner won his fifth Atlanta
Open title on Sunday, with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 win over Ryan Harrison to beat the
fellow American in the final for the second straight year
The 33-year-old Isner earned his second win of 2018 and a record fifth in
Atlanta to go with previous wins in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
The top seed served out the match to love in the 10th game of the third
set, clinching victory with a powerful serve down the line that handcuffed
Harrison.
Isner is having one of the best seasons of his career. Earlier this month
he reached his maiden Grand Slam semi-final with a run to the final four of
Wimbledon. He will be ranked number nine in the world when the new rankings
come out on Monday.
Isner blasted 21 aces and won 75 percent of his first-serve points in the
two-hour match.
The eighth-seeded Harrison, who was aiming for his second career ATP title,
finished with 10 aces but made three double faults and had his serve broken
twice. Harrison won the first set against Isner after a week of come-from-
behind victories. In order to make the final he had to rally from a set down
in each of his previous matches.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0902 hrs