A lot has changed since the last time John Isner played Roger Federer at the US Open. In 2007, Isner was just coming from four years of college tennis at the University of Georgia. He was without doubt a star of the college scene, but he quickly learned that didn’t even get him a parking spot in Flushing. Still, he made it to the third round, and then came up against the top player in the world, Roger Federer.
Federer won that match, as well as yet another US Open singles title, but not before the newly professional Isner took a first-set tiebreak from him.
Flash forward eight years and a lot has certainly changed. While the 34-year-old Federer is still challenging for the No. 1 spot in tennis, Isner has earned his place as the top American in the game. With a current ranking at No. 13, he’s hired a new coach this year and he’s ready to have another go at Federer.
Isner looked out of the box to find a coach to get him to another level and found Justin Gimelstob. The 38-year-old Gimelstob, who also played college tennis (UCLA) before hitting the tour, is retired from the game and had been spending most of his time commentating, not coaching, but Isner saw in the New Jersey native someone who could teach him what he needed to learn.
“It’s working,” says a confident Gimelstob, who has two Grand Slam mixed-doubles trophies on his shelf. “His weaknesses have improved. He’s returning serve better. His backhand has improved. He’s improved moving forward at the net.”
In fact, Isner has not had his serve broken in six consecutive matches at the US Open. He’s also served up 62 aces.
“I’m proud of his progress,” continued his coach. “I’m proud he’s committed to make changes and to do the work that he needed to do to improve, even at the later stages of his career.”
One of the biggest challenges for the new coach was to get Isner, who with Nicolas Mahut played the longest match in history at 11 hours, 5 minutes, off the court quicker.
“People don’t really understand how big he is and how much it takes out of him to play best-of-five-set matches, at a time when the sport’s never been more athletic,” explained Gimelstob. “He’s 6-10. For him to get through these matches, breaking serve more often, ending matches quicker, and having more of an energy reserve when he does play the top players, it’s a huge part of giving him an opportunity to be more successful.”
Even the tiebreaks, which Isner has become known for at every tournament, are gone. Isner has not played a single one going into the round of 16.
“That’s a symbol of the things he’s improved,” says Gimelstob.
“The level is so high out there,” he continued. “The margins are so small. Even his strengths, his weapons, have gotten better. He’s using his serve more effectively, he’s using it with more variety, and mixing in more serve-and-volley.”
Fitness is also something Isner has put more time into in 2015.
“He works very hard physically,” says Gimelstob. “I don’t think he gets enough credit for that. I don’t think he gets enough credit for the type of athlete he is for his size, and how coordinated he is. He’s a center playing against a lot of point guards. He’s very professional with his body, and his recovery, and his hydration. Building strength and endurance.”
Although Federer has won four of their five matches, the last of those was in 2012. Also in that year, the North Carolina native did beat the Swiss in Davis Cup competition.
At the press conference after he defeated Jiri Vesely, the 30-year-old Isner made it clear that he’s excited about playing Federer again: “I’m going to have fun with it. At the same time, I’m going to go out there and believe I can win the match."
Gimelstob agreed: “The next match is obviously exciting. You put in the work and you’re playing a major championship and you’re on Arthur Ashe Stadium against the greatest champion this sport’s ever seen. It presents a lot of challenges, but exciting ones.”
