Isner wins in New York for first victory of 2019
American ends six-game losing streak
Uniondale: John Isner snapped a six-match losing streak, beating Bernard Tomic 7-6, 6-4 in the second round of the New York Open.
The top-seeded American needed six match points to finish off Tomic for his first victory since last year’s Paris Masters. He followed that tournament by dropping all three matches in his first appearance at the season-ending ATP Finals and was 0-2 to start 2019, including a first-round loss at the Australian Open.
Isner, ranked No. 9, became the No. 1 seed on Long Island when Kevin Anderson was forced to withdraw with an elbow injury.
Steve Johnson couldn’t end his slump, as the third-seeded American was beaten 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 by Canadian qualifier Brayden Schnur for his ninth consecutive loss.
Isner next plays No. 7 seed Jordan Thompson of Australia, who beat American Christopher Eubanks 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Paolo Lorenzi of Italy got by Ryan Harrison of the US 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the other second-round match.
In first-round matches, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan rallied to beat American Mackenzie McDonald 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, and Radu Albot of Moldova outlasted Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6.