Courier Says Isner is Ready to Move Higher

Written by: Staff on 6th December 2011

Courier Says Isner is Ready to Move Higher |

John Isner has taken a while to make a big impact on the game, following his remarkable and historic match at Wimbledon in 2010. With his height and huge serve many expected big things from him, but it is only in the second half of the 2011 season that he has really begun to live up to those expectations.

Currently at a career-high of 18, a ranking he first achieved after that record-breaking Wimbledon, he won Newport before reaching the final in Atlanta and the semis in Washington. He then won Winston-Salem immediately before the US Open and reached the quarter-finals in New York before ending his 2011 season by reaching the semi-finals at the Paris Masters.

US Davis Cup captain Jim Courier believes that was just the beginning, and that 2012 will see Isner really take off.

“Isner had a great second half of the season,” said Courier. “He’s basically in my view in the same spot that Mardy Fish was in this time last year. He has a great shot at the top 10 in the first half of the year. If he plays the way he’s been playing, he’ll get there.

“He’s already working out physically. He’s getting geared up to start bashing some balls and really get a running start into the season. Upside potential is big with John. He’s probably the most disruptive force in the men’s game. His serve is just a monster. No one from the top down likes to deal with it.

“He’s not the best player in the world by any means, but he’s probably the player that’s least enjoyable to play. If he keeps getting better, top 10 is where he should live with that serve.”

Topics: John Isner