AFP, Miami :
John Isner finally put an end to his ATP Masters final agony on Sunday, winning the Miami Open for the first time by beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4.
The 14th seed had lost his previous three major tour final appearances in 2012, 2013 and 2016 but came back from a set down to beat Zverev in two hours and 29 minutes.
The victory capped a superb tournament for Isner, who endured a difficult start to 2018 which included an early-round exit at Indian Wells in his lead-in to Miami.
“I couldn’t have scripted this. I came into this tournament, I won one ATP [World Tour] match all year and was playing very poorly,” Isner said.
“I won my first match in three sets and that’s how tennis goes – you start to gain a little confidence and next thing you know things start to roll your way.”
Isner is the first US player since Andy Roddick in 2010 to lift the Miami title.
Isner will also reclaim a career high world ranking of ninth after the victory, the 13th title of his career.
“It’s up to me now to keep pushing forward,” he said. “To get over the hump in tournaments like this is a big thing mentally for me.
“We cleared that hurdle this week. I went into every match super fresh and loose. I will be a force if I can continue to play freely.”
