NY Times · Jul 31, 2015
2-Time Defending Champ John Isner Advances in Atlanta Open
ATLANTA — Two-time defending champion John Isner beat Radek Stepanek 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7) on Thursday night in his opening match in the Atlanta Open.
The top-seeded Isner has reached the final four of the last five years, winning the last two after losing to Mardy Fish in 2010 and 2011. Isner is 12-1 in tiebreakers in Atlanta since 2012.
Isner's booming serve was potent, with the 6-foot-10 former University of Georgia player ripping 33 aces to three for Stepanek. Yet the world's No. 19-ranked player was on the ropes a couple times against the 144th-ranked Stepanek in the final match of a day that saw three seeded players drop out.