Isner Has A Bum Knee

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 28th November 2013

BNP Paribas 2013 Masters Tennis Tournament

Isner Has A Bum Knee

epa03931352 John Isner of the US returns the ball to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their round of eight match at the BNP Paribas 2013 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 31 October 2013. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

John Isner has managed to avoid surgery on a troubled knee, with the No. 14 American counting only on fitness training and rehab to try and get his joint into shape.

Isner now has less than a month until he returns to the Hopman Cup starting December 28 in Perth, where he will partner Sloane Stephens in the mixed team competition. His last match was a month ago at Paris Bercy, where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

Isner admits that while he is still occasionally in pain, doctors tell him that rehab is the method of choice for his problem. “I had an MRI done and had people look at it. I’m not going to need surgery, but there is an issue under my kneecap. It’s about getting everything surrounding the knee stronger.

“It doesn’t bother me at all when I’m just walking around. But sometimes it hurts when I’m doing something strenuous. So I haven’t touched a racket for a while, but I am lifting some weights and doing some cardio on the bike.”

“It’s active rest, because when I take time off completely my body feels worse. And I can’t baby this (knee) forever. I need to push myself,”

Isner missed the Australian Open a year ago due to a knee problem which forced him to quit the Hopman event midway through. He will test his fitness in December at the Ebix Charity Challenge, taking place for the fourth time in Greensboro. North Carolina.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Australian Open, Hopman Cup, John Isner, Knee Surgery, Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens, Tennis, Tennis News