Washington: Ninth-ranked John Isner, fatigued after a first-ever Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon and an Atlanta title run, lost to 152nd-ranked Noah Rubin Thursday at the Washington Open tennis tournament.
Rubin, a 22-year-old American who lost to Isner in the French Open’ first round, beat the second seed 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) at the rain-hit US Open tuneup event. US second seed Isner blamed his low-energy outing in part on his busy recent schedule and also on the showers that delayed his opener to Thursday after an opening bye.
“For me, this could very well be a good loss. I need a little rest,” Isner said. “There are some big tournaments coming up. I want to be full of energy for those. It’s a blessing in disguise. That’s the mentality I have to have.”
Isner plays at Canada and Cincinnati the next two weeks in major tuneups for the US Open, which starts August 27. The American, who also won the Miami Open in March, surrendered a break in the penultimate game of the opening set. Rubin denied Isner on 7-of-8 break points while converting both of his break chances to win the first set.
Rubin advanced to a later third-round match against Russian 16th seed Andrey Rublev, who eliminated American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Also breaking into the final 16 was Australian Alex De Minaur, who upset US 11th seed Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-5 to book a later third-round date with South Korean eighth seed Chung Hyeon. Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray of Britain and third-ranked defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany also were set for later third-round matches in the main stadium.
Murray, in his first hardcourt event since returning from an 11-month layoff with a right hip injury, was set to face Romanian Marius Copil.
On the women’s side, Japanese third seed Naomi Osaka, the highest-ranked player in the field after reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens and Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki exited, was to face Poland’s Magda Linette.