RICKY’S TENNIS PICKS • WITH JOHN ISNER OUT • SERENA? MADISON? 2018 U.S. OPEN TITLE?

Written by: Staff on 5th September 2018

RICKY'S TENNIS PICKS • WITH JOHN ISNER OUT • SERENA? MADISON? 2018 U.S. OPEN TITLE?

epa06990669 Madison Keys of the US hits a return to Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia during the sixth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE |

Madison Keys of the US hits a return to Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia during the sixth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

By Ricky Dimon

The last American remaining in the men’s singles draw at the U.S. Open got bounced on out on Tuesday afternoon, as John Isner succumbed to Juan Martin Del Potro 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-2. Del Potro did little wrong, committing a mere 14 unforced errors (he had just as many aces) and holding serve the entire way (three of three break points saved). The Argentine advanced to a second consecutive USO semifinal after three hours and 31 minutes.

Thus the host nation’s quest for a Grand Slam men’s singles champion continues. It has now been a full 15 years since Andy Roddick last accomplished the feat at the 2003 U.S. Open. Count Roddick among those with a rooting interest in an American lifting a major trophy.

“I did hear from Andy,” Isner said when asked about Roddick following his loss to Del Potro. “He texted me after I won my second round (against Nicolas Jarry) and my last match against (Milos) Raonic. He’s always been a good friend of mine; a very good guy. He doesn’t overload me with anything. He just says, ‘Good job.’ I say, ‘Thanks, Andy.’

“I do know he’s always rooting for us players to break through. It has been a very long time. I guess I came pretty close this year. I don’t have many more chances. We will see what happens next year. I think I’m going to be back and competing at these Grand Slams and we’ll have a lot of players on the American men’s side still improving with their best tennis yet to come.”

For now, though, the American women remain the best. And two are still alive as the tournament winds down with quarterfinals on Wednesday and semifinals on Thursday. Madison Keys will meet Carla Suarez Navarro in the quarters on Wednesday night. With Serena Williams already in the semis, two of the four semifinalists could be Americans. All four female semifinalists at the 2017 USO hailed from the home country.

“It’s always nice to see a bunch of Americans doing well at the home slam,” Keys commented. “I’m just really happy to be a part of it. And to have back to back years is really special.”

Serena booked her spot in the last four by beating Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday night. That result avenged the all-time great’s semifinal loss to Pliskova in the 2016 USO semifinals.

“I’m here to do my best,” Serena assured. “I don’t have 10 more years, at least I don’t think so (smiling). I said that 10 years ago. I don’t think I have another 10 years of having opportunities to be able to play and win championships. Every match really means a lot to me. I kind of go out there and I just do the best that I can.”

If Serena keeps brining anything close to her best, another American champion may be in the cards in New York–with perhaps even an all-American final featuring Serena and Keys.