John Isner had the red carpet rolled out for him in his first round tie as his illustrious career looked to be coming to an end at the US Open, but it was the second round in which one of America's greatest players found his end.
To another American no less in Michael Mmoh who won from two sets down with Isner on the cusp of continuing his Flushing Meadows journey. But Mmoh fought back to win the last three 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 with Isner's career ending like most of his matches in a tiebreak.
He became the first man to win 500 tour-level tiebreaks in February and last year was in a Dallas marathon tie-break with Reilly Opelka so was a fitting end to his career in many ways.
A former World No.8, the winner of 16 singles titles including a Masters 1000. He is most famous perhaps for his ace hitting and serve which has been adopted by many of similar height and stature. In his career, he hit 14,400 aces and was the winner of the longest tennis match ever at Wimbledon 2010.
A moment remembered by many as he saw off Nicolas Mahut in over 11 hours. But at the age of 38, he felt that he could no longer compete as he once was with wins getting harder to come by.
Such was the outpouring of affection at his ceremony in Round One shows what Isner means in particular to US tennis and will bow out as a hero to them anchoring men's tennis in an era before Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz now. As well as after Andy Roddick.
Perhaps one of the unsung heroes of the modern era and one that got his farewell twice instead of only once. Thanks for the memories John!
John Isner's singles career is officially over. 🔹 Former no. 8 🔸 16 singles titles 🔹 Masters 1000 champion 🔸 Over 14.400 aces hit in his career 🔹 Winner of the longest tennis match ever (Wimbledon 2010, v. Mahut, over 11 hours) A legend of US tennis. 🇺🇸
