Second Seed Isner Ousted In Washington ATP Opener

Ninth-ranked John Isner, coming off a title in Atlanta and a Wimbledon semi-final run, was ousted from the ATP and WTA Washington Open on Thursday by 152nd-ranked US compatriot Noah Rubin.

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Aug, 2018 ) :Ninth-ranked John Isner, coming off a title in Atlanta and a Wimbledon semi-final run, was ousted from the ATP and WTA Washington Open on Thursday by 152nd-ranked US compatriot Noah Rubin.

Rubin, a 22-year-old who was beaten by Isner in the first round of the French Open, defeated the second seed 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to reach a later third-round match at the rain-hit US Open tuneup event.

The match was among five postponed after rain Wednesday night, leaving Isner the lone player who had not taken the court in the tournament.

Isner, who won titles this year at Miami and Atlanta, surrendered a break in the penultimate game of the opening set. Rubin denied Isner on 7-of-8 break points while converting both of his break chances to win the first set.

Isner never managed another break point against Rubin, who won after 99 minutes when Isner sent a forehand smash long then netted a forehand.

Isner managed his best career Grand Slam finish at Wimbledon when he reached the semi-finals, losing an epic 26-24 fifth set to South African Kevin Anderson.

It was the second-longest match in Grand Slam history, lasting six hours and 36 minutes.

Rubin advanced to a later third-round match against Russian 16th seed Andrey Rublev, who eliminated American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

Also breaking into the final 16 was Australian Alex De Minaur, who upset US 11th seed Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-5 to book a later third-round date with South Korean eighth seed Chung Hyeon.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray of Britain and third-ranked defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany also were set for later third-round matches in the main stadium.

Top seed Zverev was set to face his older brother Mischa, seeded 15th, in their first ATP Tour matchup.

Murray, in his first hardcourt event since returning from an 11-month layoff with a right hip injury, was set to face Romanian Marius Copil.