Isner Opposes Monfils And The Audience

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 30th August 2013

Isner Opposes Monfils And The Audience

epa03842792 John Isner of the US hits a return to Gael Monfils of France during their match on the fourth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 29 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

Gone, it seems, are the days when the Flushing Meadows crowd was behind an American player at the US Open…unless of course he was playing somebody from the same country.

John Isner was playing a Frenchman in the form of the hugely unconventional Gael Monfils, and was forced to battle not just against him opponent but a Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd chanting his opponent’s name.

Isner finally came through to win 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 and proving too strong for Monfils in a fourth-set tiebreak. But he learned a hard lesson that arguing with questionable decisions can only alienate an apparently supportive crowd.

The Armstrong Stadium crowd audibly changed its’ allegiance and Isner was unable to hide his disappointment at the fact. “I noticed it,” admitted the highest-seeded American male player in the tournament, almost trying to justify the treatment he received from his supposed followers. “Monfils is a fun-loving guy and an exciting guy to watch, no matter where he’s playing.

“He gets cheered wherever he goes, not just in France. He’s one of the most exciting tennis players in the world, hands down. He’s been fighting a bunch of injuries, so it’s good to see him back healthy.”

Anyone arriving late in the third set and not know which player was from which country would have struggled to distinguish the American. Chants of ‘Let’s go, Monfils!’ rung around the stadium. Fans raucously applauded Monfils’ best shots while clapping and almost mocking faults and other errors by Isner.

“I know New York fans like to see long matches and fifth sets or whatnot,” continued 13th seeded Isner. “But I was a little bit disappointed. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. If I was playing in France, it certainly wouldn’t be like that, I’ll tell you that.”

Isner may have served 23 aces and played a superb tiebreak to eventually claim the match but that was not enough it seemed for some of the paying customers.

“In the tiebreaker, I played great,” Isner said. “I hit two massive serves, and I hit the best forehand I hit all night at 5-4. I’m just so happy I’m still not out there playing right now.”

Now Isner moves forward to play world no. 22 Philipp Kohlschreiber and will want to exact revenge for the third round defeat he suffered at the hands of the German in last year’s US Open.

Topics: Atp, Gael Monfils, John Isner, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Sports, Tennis, US Open