Starting on December 7—the 25th day left in 2010—TENNIS.com will countdown from the year-end No. 25 on both tours with "The Last Word," a look back at the year that was and a look ahead at the season to come. Here's who we've looked at so far.
Best of 2010
Are you kidding? It’s the set heard round the world: Wimbledon, first round, 70-68 in the fifth, Isner over Nicolas Mahut. Beyond that, Isner won his first ATP title in Auckland to start his 2010 campaign, beating Juan Monaco, Tommy Robredo and Albert Montanes along the way.
Worst of 2010
Are you serious? Wimbledon, first round, 70-68 in the fifth, Isner over Mahut, because the cost of that history-making win prevented Isner, who has the game to win Wimbledon, from getting past the second round. But that tepid loss to Mikhail Youzhny in the third round of the U.S. Open also has to rate as a major disappointment.
Year in Review
Isner became a household name after his record-setting Wimbledon match, and in some ways that represented the peak of his year. Before that, he won Auckland, had a strong Australian Open (losing in the fourth round to eventual finalist Andy Murray) and reached the finals in Memphis and Belgrade (on clay, no less), losing to his buddy Sam Querrey both times. After Wimbledon, he lost the Atlanta final to countryman Mardy Fish, but reached just one more semifinal (Beijing).
See for Yourself
How did you know? Let’s re-live that Isner-Mahut finish, one more time:
The Last Word
Isner is a challenging study. He’s so laconic and easygoing that he could easily be mistaken for lazy, but the same could be said for the king of beasts, the lion. Instead of fangs, Isner has that stupendous serve, made all the more difficult to handle because of his 6’9” frame enables him to hit unusual, effective angles. The 25-year old isn’t by nature a specimen, and fitness training can only take him so far. The overall impression is that he slowed down in 2010 after that epic match, suggesting that while Isner is capable of making huge statements, he doesn’t have the natural strength and stamina to grind out the wins, week after week.
—Peter Bodo