International Tennis Hall Of Fame

Hall of Fame Championships Journal: Isner answers Stenning's SOS call

NEWPORT — John Isner was planning time off in his native North Carolina after his second-round loss at Wimbledon and before the outdoor hardcourt tennis season that culminates with the U.S. Open. A wedding on Saturday was on his agenda.

Then Mark Stenning, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and tournament director of the Campbell Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, caught up with him in London and explained that Mardy Fish, the defending champion and top seed for the Hall of Fame tournament, had been named to the U.S. Davis Cup team that was playing in the quarterfinals in Austin, Texas, during the weekend. Stenning asked if Isner would pinch-hit for Fish. Stenning also reminded Isner that he had given him a wildcard when he turned pro in 2007.

Isner said yes, and Tuesday afternoon returned to the Newport Casino for the third time. He won for the first time, defeating Karol Beck of Slovakia, 6-3, 6-2, in 1 hour and 3 minutes.

“I hope to do well here,” the 6-foot-9, 26-year-old said. “I have a wedding Saturday that I hope to miss.”

The hard-hitting Isner broke ahead in the second game of the first set and never looked back. He broke serve twice in the second set. He made 64 percent of his first serves and hit 10 aces.

Isner was disappointed in his Wimbledon showing a year after he and Nicholas Mahut of France played the longest match in history, 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. Isner won the deciding fifth set, 70-68.

“I have more Grand Slams in me,” he said.

Isner and Mahut knew they would be asked numerous questions about their historic marathon when they returned to Wimbledon last month. As luck would have it, they met again in the first round.

“That was crazy,” Isner said.

He won in straight sets.

Mahut is in the draw at the Hall of Fame.

“I’m glad when I picked my opponent at the draw party that I didn’t pick him,” Isner said with a smile.

“John and I talk about it when we play each other. We will never forget it, but we will not talk about it every day,” the Frenchman said Tuesday after beating Sebastian Decoud of Argentina, 6-1, 6-0, in 51 minutes.

“I’ve been here since Thursday. I am ready to play,” Mahut said.

Isner and Mahut are in opposite ends of the draw, so if they do meet here, it will be for the championship.

Dan Magill honored by International Tennis Hall Of Fame | The Red ...

Widely regarded as the most influential man in the history of collegiate tennis, Magill served as Georgia’s head tennis coach for 34 years from 1955-1988. He led the Bulldogs to two national championships (1985 and 1987) and remains active in the collegiate tennis community, serving as curator and director of the ITA Men’s Collegiate Hall of Fame at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens.

In his 34-year tenure as head coach of the Bulldogs, Magill posted a record of 706-183, which at the time made him the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. Magill’s teams won a record 13 SEC outdoor championships and eight indoor league titles, while five of his players won national collegiate individual titles.

Magill originated the State Collegiate Championships, the Southern Collegiate Championships – the oldest fall collegiate tournament in the nation – and the SEC Indoor Tournament.

In 1996, he was inducted into the Circle of Honor, the UGA Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame, and in the fall of 1999 the Sanford Stadium press box was dedicated in his honor. Magill currently serves as chairman of the ITA Collegiate Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

The two other recipients of the Tennis Educational Merit Award include Leslie Allen of New York and Dale Caldwell of New Brunswick, N.J.

[...] Dan Magill honored by International Tennis Hall Of Fame Former Georgia tennis coach Dan Magill has been named a recipient of the Tennis Educational Merit Award presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The award is given annually to individuals who are United States citizens and have made notable contributions in the tennis education field at the national level. Widely regarded as the [...] Read more on The Red and Black [...

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