John Isner shares moving words: "I am grateful to tennis"

• Tennis News
• Tennis Interviews

John Isner's career ended on August 31, 2023 at the Us Open, a tennis player capable of getting the most out of this sport by exploiting his physical skills. 2.08 meters tall and with one of the most powerful serves in history, the American tennis player, in his 17-year career, managed to win 16 singles titles, including an ATP Master 1000 at the Miami Open 2018, and 8 in doubles, including three ATP Masters 1000 with countryman Jack Sock, also in the last game of his career.

And just together with his doubles partner he wanted to say goodbye to tennis by playing, after being eliminated from the singles tournament a few hours earlier in a very tight five-set match with Mmoh, his last match against the Galloway-Olivetti couple.

In conference press a moved Isner talked about how wonderful these 17 years have been on the circuit, explaining what this sport has meant to him.

John Isner's moving words at the press conference

The 38-year-old American described his emotions after the match: "It's a mix of emotions.

Obviously there is a lot of disappointment with the result of my singles match today, but at the same time also a lot of gratitude for having played for the last time in such an atmosphere. It was very nice." Isner, notoriously one of the most respected tennis players on the circuit, said he was happy with what his path was: "On the court, I like to think I'm a good opponent.

I certainly can't win every game. But I love this sport. I want to be remembered as someone who competed hard on the court. Off the court, I think the most important thing is to have the respect of my colleagues in the dressing room.

Tennis has been a huge part of my life. It is hard to say goodbye. Most importantly, I have an amazing life and I look forward to living every second of it." On the best moments of his career, Isner romantically declared: "If you play for 17 years, you are able to create great memories.

The most important thing is that the people I've met through tennis are everything to me. I met my wife thanks to tennis. Now I have four beautiful children. I am very grateful to this sport for what it has given me." On his last career loss, Isner finally said: "I had a match point too.

He caught a great serve. My matches are always on the razor's edge. They could go one way or the other. Today didn't go well for me. Of course, there are some shots that I would have played better, like a volley that I probably should have hit 7 all in the tiebreak.

It's a tough way out. At the same time though, I walked out in front of a packed stadium, to a standing ovation. Really nice."