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by Pete Bodo
When Sam Querrey flamed out in the first round at Roland Garros and abruptly said No mas! to the European clay tour in a press conference more noteworthy for its honesty than its diplomacy, pundits speculated on the damage Querrey's actions might have on friendship with his amigo and double partner, John Isner.
Querrey, after all, was pulling out of the doubles—leaving Isner high and dry. The two of them were committed to doubles, and one of their goals for 2010 is to qualify for the year-end ATP Tour World Championships as a team. They were off to a good start, too; after a loss in the semifinals at Indian Wells, they slashed and bombed their way the final in Rome, where they lost to that other pair of big American galoot, Bob and Mike Bryan.
But when Isner gets off the plane in London today, he's less likely to take a swing at Querrey (who's in the hunt at the Aegon Championships) than to throw him a big soul-shake and greet him with a man hug. Isner, with whom I spoke yesterday, completely understood and supported his buddy's decision to pull the plug in Paris. It had no impact on their friendship; they still talk on a daily basis.
"It was a tough five weeks in Europe for both of us," Isner said. "I was ready to come home, too, but I did a little better in singles in Paris [Isner lost in the third round to an eventual semifinalist, Tomas Berdych]. Sam did what he had to do, and I just want the best for him, the best for me."
After losing to countryman Robby Ginepri in Paris, Querrey was extraordinarily frank about his desultory performance and overarching desire to return him to the U.S. Some critics ravaged him for calling it quits, and questioned his professionalism.
But Craig Boynton, Isner's coach, begged to differ: "One thing most people missed in this is that it wasn't so long ago that Sam came within millimeters of never playing tennis again (shortly after the U.S. Open last September, he sliced open his right arm in a freak accident and didn't play again until the start of this year). He overdid it when he came back, playing pretty much non-stop from the Australian Open on. I saw him hit the wall after that Belgrade final with John. He was looking glassy-eyed after that."
Isner himself was spent after his satisfying performance in Europe. He returned after the French Open and spent a few days with is family in North Carolina before resuming training on a grass court at his home base, the Saddlebrook resort. He was originally scheduled to play this week in Eastbourne, but he decided to remain in the U.S. to train for Wimbledon.
"The best practice for me is playing matches," he told me, "But after a long trip like I just made I need to work a little bit on my condition. Get into the gym, improve my cardio and general strength. Both of them can decline, even if you're winning matches, so it's an interesting bind. You just do what you think is right, depending on what your body and mind are telling you."
Querrey has banked a few Ws at Queens, putting a little pressure on his friend and rival with Wimbledon coming up. At No. 23, he's ranked four rungs lower than Isner. And counted together with Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish, they've set the stage for a significant American impact at Wimbledon.