John Isner moves US Open crowd by celebrating with family: "It's exciting"

The American debuts with a victory and will play the second round in New York


by LORENZO CIOTTI

John Isner moves US Open crowd by celebrating with family: "It's exciting"
John Isner moves US Open crowd by celebrating with family: "It's exciting" © Matthew Stockman / Staff Getty Images Sport

John Isner still wants to fight and at the US Open he postponed his retirement as a professional athlete by at least one game. The American played very well in the main draw of the US Open, overcoming the Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta in three sets and giving himself another match on Thursday.

At the end of the battle, the American celebrated with his family and children, receiving a beautiful tribute from the crowd present in the stands. Isner will play a singles match and certainly doubles with Jack Sock, who together with him will learn the racket after Flushing Meadows.

The 38-year-old told a press conference: "It's a bit emotional. I think in a way it's helping me to free myself up a bit. If I hadn't won that match it would have been difficult. I'm very firm in my decision to retire. One reason is because my body actually feels it.

He's not like he was 5, 6, 10, 12 years ago, but he's still alive. I have so much adrenaline that keeps me going. Probably after Wimbledon I knew this would be my last tournament and here we are. What I want most is for my colleagues to remember me as a guy who did pretty well off the court.

I think I had a great relationship with the guys who came before me." Here is the video released by the tournament organizers:

Murray praises Isner

Andy Murray praises the American after his first round win at Flushing Meadows, by saying: "I've said it several times, Isner has the best serve in the history of tennis.

He has a great technique and can do what he wants with both first and second; he and Ivo Karlovic were quite similar, not just in height. John also prefers to stay in the baseline while Karlovic tended to go for the net more often, but what I know is that it was always a disaster when you had to face them. But I often played well against Isner, but I didn't like him."

John Isner Us Open