John Isner finished inside the top 20 worldwide rankings for ten years, from 2010 to 2019, and was the best-ranked American in the year-end rankings for nine consecutive years, from 2012 to 2020.
John Isner, an American tennis player known for his big serves and his involvement in the longest-ever match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, said on Wednesday that he will be retiring from the professional ranks after playing in the US Open this year. Isner, who needed three days to finish an 11-hour epic match at Wimbledon 13 years ago, losing 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/3), 70-68 against Nicolas Mahut of France, confirmed his retirement on social media.
“It’s time to say goodbye to professional tennis after 17+ years on the ATP Tour,” Isner posted on X, the website that was originally known as Twitter. “My last event will be the US Open.”
My wife, Maddie, and Isner have four small children. “This transition won’t be easy, but I’m looking forward to every second of it with my amazing family,” Isner added. It’s time to put them on for the last time.
In both 2011 and 2018, 38-year-old Isner reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
When the US Open begins on Monday, he will have 14,411 aces, making him the all-time leader in the ATP Tour.
Isner will likely be most remembered, though, for his record-breaking Wimbledon battle with Mahut.
During the match, which ended with an incredible 138-game fifth set, Isner blasted down a record 113 aces.
Years later, in an interview, Isner remarked, “Those numbers are etched in my memory.”
“The score is 70-68 in basketball. I am always reminded of that by it. These are two numbers that, throughout my lifetime, I will never forget. It’s plain absurd.”
