KRISTEN’S KOURT: CAN THE TEAM OF RODDICK/ISNER GO ALL THE WAY?

Written by: Staff on 28th July 2012

KRISTEN'S KOURT: CAN THE TEAM OF RODDICK/ISNER GO ALL THE WAY?

epa01849693 Andy Roddick of the US hits a return against John Isner of the US during the sixth day of the 2009 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 05 September 2009. The Open runs through Sunday 13 September 2009. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

By Kristen Tracy

We are less than 12 hours from the beginning of the tennis portion of the 2012 Olympics. In action for the Americans on day 1 is the first match pairing up the ATP’s two biggest servers – Andy Roddick and John Isner. Surprisingly enough, the two friends have never played doubles together. Isner typically plays with Sam Querrey, while Roddick usually joins forces with longtime friend Mardy Fish. Neither are exceptional doubles players, but their serves alone are reason for other teams to be worried. Think of all those time in singles matches when one of the them has been down 0-40. What do they do? Well they just fire off 3 or 4 aces, of course!

A lot has been said about both Isner and Roddick on the tour this year – but for very different reasons. Isner cracked the top 10 for the first time in his career after beating Roger Federer, former world no. 1 Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga all within three months. John quickly became a force to be reckoned with on the tour. Roddick on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. He’s suffered tremendously over the past two years to try to regain that strength and power that used to bring him title after title. Now he finds himself the topic of retirement discussion. And even though he won his first tournament of the year last month in Eastbourne and just captured his second last week in Atlanta, many people think the end is drawing near for Roddick.

With so much being said about the two fastest servers on the tour, can we say that they have a legitimate shot at receiving a medal at this year’s games? If you ask me, I say yes. But not because there aren’t better players, because there are. I just think that both Isner and Roddick have a lot to prove right now – to the world and to themselves. And the fact that they both carry a lethal serve doesn’t hurt either. I bet every doubles team in the draw is praying they don’t have to play those two – because they know how dependable the Roddick and Isner serves are. Isner’s 6’9″ frame makes Roddick’s 6’2″ look short, but that doesn’t mean either is less ready for the pressure. And with both John and Andy having excellent overall tiebreak records, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if we see them on the podium come the end of the tournament.

Follow Kristen on Twitter! @KristensKourt

http://4theloveof10s.wordpress.com

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Roddick, John Isner, London Olympics, Mardy Fish, Roger Federer, Sam Querrey, Sports, Tennis News