Exuberant Isner: 'It's Not Goodbye Yet'

Retirement will have to wait.

Buoyed by overwhelming support from his family, friends and fellow players, John Isner made a winning start to his farewell tournament at the US Open Tuesday night with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(1) win over Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta.

Having struggled for form and fitness for most of the year, Isner produced perhaps his most positive and aggressive performance of the season. Post match he received running hugs from eldest sons Hobbs and Mack and he was later joined on court inside Louis Armstrong Stadium by wife Maddie and their two other children Hunter Grace and Chapel, his parents, Bob and Karen, and his brother Jordan.

Many current and former players were on hand for the match, including Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey, Daniel Nestor and Jackson Withrow.

Feted by close friend and former Davis Cup teammate James Blake during a post-match ceremony, Isner held back tears as he addressed welcoming U.S. fans.

“I’ve had an incredible career and I’ve been so fortunate to have had so many friends and my family,” Isner said. “Without tennis I woldn’t have met my wife and I wouldn’t have the amazing family that I have with four beautiful kids. That’s really what it’s all about.

“Hopefully I can keep playing some more and the older ones can remember watching their dad play. That’s very, very special.

“I feel so blessed to have played this event 17 times. I do not take that for granted. It’s not goodbye yet. I’m still alive. I’m actually pretty good so I’m going to try to keep this thing going as long as I possibly can.”