TORCH DROP: FRANCES TIAFOE, TAYLOR FRITZ MISS OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES VS. FELLOW AMERICANS JOHN ISNER, JACK SOCK

Written by: Staff on 30th August 2016

TORCH DROP: FRANCES TIAFOE, TAYLOR FRITZ MISS OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES VS. FELLOW AMERICANS JOHN ISNER, JACK SOCK

epa05514729 Jack Sock of the US hits a return to Taylor Fritz of the US during their match on the first day of the US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 29 August 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JASON SZENES |

By Ricky Dimon

There was no passing of the torch in American men’s tennis at the U.S. Open on Monday. But there certainly were some close calls.

Playing the first men’s match on the new Grandstand at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, John Isner and Frances Tiafoe battled for three hours and 27 minutes before the outcome could be decided. It was the much younger Tiafoe who started strong, but the veteran Isner roared back for a 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3) opening-round victory.

Playing on a wild-card entry and with nothing to lose, Tiafoe broke his opponent at love for an immediate lead and he never looked back throughout the first two sets. The 18-year-old struggled only when he played from ahead, as the pressure began to mount. Isner slowly sank his teeth into the match and the 31-year-old soon found himself deadlocked at two sets apiece, heading for a fifth.

Frances Tiafoe of the US hits a return to John Isner of the US during their match on the first day of the US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 29 August 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Tiafoe steadied the ship in the decider and earned a crucial break of the Isner serve for a 5-3 advantage. But with victory on his racket, the underdog cracked. Isner broke to stay alive for 4-5, held easily for 5-5, and maintained momentum the rest of the way. The world No. 21, America’s top player by just one spot in the rankings over Steve Johnson, rolled through the decisive tiebreaker to cap off his dramatic comeback.

“I wasn’t (surprised),” Isner said of Tiafoe’s level of play. “I mean, I know how talented he is. At such a young age, he seems to be the type of kid that can rise up to the big occasion. He played, I thought, very well.”

“I don’t really know what John said,” Tiafoe responded when asked about their lengthy embrace at the net. “I just heard him say, ‘You’re going to be great,’ and I was kind of crying on his shoulder. But, yeah, he’s so nice. We’re such good friends. And then the last thing I heard him say is, ‘Don’t let this get you down.’

“For American tennis, I think it’s looking really good. I think we have a lot of guys that are going to be very good. I think American tennis is definitely on the right path. We just got to keep our heads down and keep doing the work and I think we’re going to have good careers.”

Also 18 years old, Taylor Fritz has already done plenty of good things on the main tour. Up to 54th in the rankings, Fritz boasts 14 ATP-level match victories in his brief career. A 15th almost came on Monday evening.

Instead, Jack Sock survived a second consecutive five-setter between the two countrymen by holding off the 18-year-old 7-6(3), 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-4 after three hours and 24 minutes. Sock, a relative veteran compared to Fritz at 23 years old, gave back two breaks in the fifth set but broke when at mattered most at 5-4 to basically stumble across the finish line.

Taylor Fritz of the US hits a return to Jack Sock of the US during their match on the first day of the US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 29 August 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JASON SZENES

“I think the younger Americans are doing a great job of making a splash–making names for themselves early,” noted Sock, who also beat Fritz in five at the Australian Open in January. “Taylor has been a pro for a year and some change now and he’s already in the top 60. Yeah, these guys are playing great tennis. They’re playing with confidence.”

Isner would not disagree.

“I can’t say enough about Frances,” he concluded. “I’ve always liked him. Always. He’s a great guy. He has a fantastic future.”

But on Monday, at least, the future wasn’t now. For now, the future is still the future.