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ISNER FALLS VALIANTLY TO DJOKOVIC AS U.S. LOSES IN DAVIS CUP PLAY

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By Randy Walker

John Isner fought valiantly Sunday, playing in his debut Davis Cup series against the No. 2 player in the world, on foreign soil, on an uncomfortable clay court, with over 10,000 Serbian fans cheering against him.

But it was not enough.

John Isner
John Isner

The six-foot-nine inch Isner came up just short against Novak Djokovic, falling 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 in 4 hours, 17 minutes Sunday, clinching victory for Serbia in the Davis Cup first round in Belgrade.

The loss for the United States places it in the Davis Cup Play-off Round, set for Sept. 17-19, against a nation, likely emerging from Davis Cup Zone Group I. The draw for the Play-off Round will be held in May.

Isner, the former University of Georgia standout and the No. 2-ranked American player ranked No. 20 in the world, was the workhorse for the United States this weekend, forced to play three matches over the weekend when he was a last minute substitute in Saturday’s doubles rubber for Mike Bryan, who suffered from food poisoning after eating tainted chicken curry from his hotel room service Friday night.

Isner paired with Bob Bryan and defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarovic 7-6 (8), 5-7, 7-6 (8), 6-3 to cut Serbia’s lead to 2-1 after the second day Saturday. Isner was defeated by Victor Troicki 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4 in Friday’s opening match, before Sam Querrey lost to Djokovic 6-2, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 to put Serbia in a commanding 2-0 lead on the first day of play.

The United States was playing without its two stalwart players Andy Roddick and James Blake, who begged off the team to due to health concerns regarding changing surfaces from clay to hard and to rest and focus on achieving goals on the ATP Tour.

Querrey defeated Troicki 7-5, 6-2 in the fifth and meaningless match to make the final score of the series 3-2 for Serbia.

Serbia advances into a curious quarterfinal match against Croatia, a country it waged a bitter, ethnic war with in the 1990s. Croatia defeated Ecuador 5-0 in the first round. Two-time defending champion Spain defeated Switzerland 4-1 and will travel to France in the quarterfinals. France defeated Germany 4-1. Russia defeated India 3-2 and will next host Argentina, a 3-2 winner over Sweden. The Czech Republic defeated Belgium 4-1 and will play the winner of Israel and Chile in the quarterfinals.

1973: Laver And Newk Finish American Shut-Out

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Rod Laver
Rod Laver

The 2009 Davis Cup Final begins Friday in Barcelona as Spain plays host to the Czech Republic. As part of the countdown to the final, WorldTennisMagazine.com is presenting a special look at some of the best moments in the history of the Davis Cup, courtesy of the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com). Each day, WorldTennisMagazine.com will present the anniversaries of some of the best matches from the event.

ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY – December 2

1973 – Rod Laver and John Newcombe complete a 5-0 shut out of the United States in the Davis Cup Final in Cleveland, Ohio as Newcombe defeats Tom Gorman 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 and Laver defeats Stan Smith 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. With the victory, captain Neale Fraser’s team goes down in Davis Cup history as one of the greatest of all time. The four team members – Newcombe, Laver, Ken Rosewall and Mal Anderson – combine for a total of 25 major singles titles on their resumes

2001 – Nicolas Escude, ranked No. 27 in the world, clinches victory for France in the Davis Cup Final, defeating No. 64th ranked Wayne Arthurs 7-6(3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 in the fifth and decisive match in France’s 3-2 victory over Australia at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Arthurs is a last minute substitute for Patrick Rafter, who is substituted for due to tendonitis in his right arm.  Says Escude, “’This might take a while to sink in. To win twice here is unbelievable, to win the Cup even better.”  Earlier Sunday, Lleyton Hewitt sends the final to the fifth match with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win over Sebastien Grosjean. France leads the series 2-1 entering the final day of play as Cedric Pioline and Fabrice Santoro pair to defeat Rafter and Hewitt 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

1995 – One day after collapsing in cramps after defeating Andrei Chesnokov in five sets, Pete Sampras teams with Todd Martin to give the United States an important 2-1 over Russia in the Davis Cup Final in Moscow. Sampras and Martin defeat Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Andrei Olhovskiy 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 in a match that proves pivotal in the United States claiming its 31st Davis Cup title.