13th-seeded John Isner won in straight sets against fellow American Marcos Giron on a very hot second day at the US Open in New York. Isner, who stands 6’10” tall, looked as if he was simply practicing his monster serve at times, riddling Giron with 26 aces in the match. He hit 60 winners to boot, and demonstrated–important for Isner watchers–superb footwork throughout.
Isner is the highest seeded American man in a US Open that has so far drawn attention mostly for the possibility of being Roger Federer’s return as a Grand Slam champion. Tennis’s durable big four–Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Federer–has been sliced in half for this tourney. Murray is not in top form and has struggled physically and Nadal is out altogether, leaving Djokovic and a rejuvenated Federer seeded Nos. 1 and 2. Isner, however, has a chance against anyone if he plays as he did in the opener.