Isner looks to build on strong summer in NYC

John Isner has won 12 career ATP titles since turning pro in 2007. A closer look reveals that most of those are multiples of the same crown.

He holds three Newport titles after winning there again earlier this summer. He also has four Atlanta crowns, which is fitting given he's a University of Georgia alumni. Then there are two Winston-Salem wins, which works great as a warm-up for the US Open, and two Auckland pieces of hardware. His only odd victory so far is Houston (won in 2007 on clay).

It makes sense for the 6'10" big-serving American to keep coming back and doing well in places he's comfortable in. The 32-year-old performs best in America, thrilling his home crowds. He had dedicated himself to U.S. tennis for his entire life, playing four years of college tennis for Georgia, representing the U.S. in Davis Cup, and trying his best to secure the Grand Slam crown that American males have been missing since 2003.

He's asked about the state of American tennis, a lot, and about his decision to play college tennis.

"There was actually no decision there for me," Isner said. "The thought of going pro never crossed my mind so the only decision was where to go to school."

Isner was a late bloomer, developing under the coaches at Georgia into the big-hitting champion you see today. He wouldn't change his decision to play college ball for a second, given that skipping straight to pros could have been the kiss of death for his career.

"I think it all kind of goes in waves. Sometimes you have generations of players that don't go to college and right now we're seeing a bunch of that," Isner said in Newport. "There's a great crop of young players, and maybe these players didn't need to go to college. There's some people that don't. Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, Donald Young, they didn't need it but other people do and did."

Despite never reaching a major semifinal, Isner's best Grand Slam showing came on—you guessed it—home soil at the 2011 US Open. Asking to make a deep run this year in New York City may be too much, but for Isner, nothing's out of the question, as the games best tend to be in their 30s.

"Look I'm 32 and I'm playing pretty good tennis," Isner said. "I'm feeling strong and fit."

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