Knee Injury May Force Isner To Skip Australian Open

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 9th January 2013

BNP Paribas 2012 Masters Tennis Tournament

Knee Injury May Force Isner To Skip Australian Open

epa03453625 John Isner of the USA returns the ball to Michael Llodra of France during their second round match at the BNP Paribas 2012 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 31 October 2012. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

Rumors are flying around Melbourne quicker than a John Isner serve that the United States ’ top ranked player may miss the Australian Open because of a bone bruise on his right knee.

The world no.13 lost out to fellow American Ryan Harrison in his initial match at Sydney ’s Apia International and admitted the injury is not healing quick enough and any more impact from the hard Plexicushion surface employed at Melbourne Park , would almost certainly worsen the condition.

“I’ve got a decision to make shortly,” said Isner as he prepared to make the hour long flight from Sydney to Melbourne . “It (the knee) was a lot better than it was six days ago, but it wasn’t 100%.

“Certainly I could win a match maybe, a match or two. But I don’t see myself winning the whole tournament at this point, that’s for sure. Right now I don’t feel like I could reach the second week.”

Isner traveled to Australia after feeling pain in his knee following fitness work carried out before Christmas with conditioning trainer Kyle Morgan. He opted out of partnering Serena Williams in last week’s Perth-staged Hopman Cup and the loss to Harrison was his first competitive outing since losing to Michael Llodra in the first round of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris more than ten weeks ago.

“It can get worse,” warned the 27 year-old. “It needs rest is what it needs. That’s the only thing I’ve done since I felt it last week is rest. You can make it worse.”

Isner knows that playing the Australian Open is a massive gamble and the effects could be long lasting. The United States host Brazil in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group starting February 1 on an indoor hard court in Jacksonville , Florida . So Isner is crucial to American captain Jim Courier’s plans.

But Isner admitted: “I will need to take time off somewhere. That’s a given. It’s not just going to heal. I can’t play all the way through and have it heal.”

Isner split with long-time coach Craig Boynton late last year and hired former United States Tennis Association staff coach Michael Sell as a replacement.