By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, March 16, 2022
As father to three young children, John Isner rarely watches tennis at home.
These days, Isner can't keep his eyes off Tennis Channel's Indian Wells coverage.
More: Brooksby Shocks Tsitsipas
That's because American men's tennis is becoming must-see TV. For the first time since 2004, four American men are through to BNP Paribas Open round of 16.
The 36-year-old Isner has seen ebbs and flows in American tennis for years.
Pointing to the fact there are seven American men ranked in the ATP's Top 45, Isner believes we are on the verge of a watershed moment for the USA.
"I was home, at the conclusion of [Sebastian Korda's] match versus Rafa. I was chilling last night when Jenson [Brooksby] beat Stefanos [Tsitsipas]," Isner said after defeating Diego Schwartzman to reach the Indian Wells round of 16 today. "Definitely watch those guys a lot. I think for the first time in a while you can actually say American tennis on the men's side is very promising. There's no doubt about that.
"We certainly have strength in numbers in the top 100. We have a lot of players in the top 100. There's some legitimate chatter about some of these guys coming up being really, really good."
Andy Roddick, who beat Juan Carlos Ferrero to win the 2003 US Open crow, remains the last American man to hoist a Grand Slam singles title.
While Isner said it's a bit premature to pick which American man could break through and master a major, he asserts we could see two American men crack the Top 10 in the near future.
Isner suggests Sebastian Korda, Jenson Brooksby, Reilly Opelka, Taylor Fritz and Brandon Nakashima are among the Americans who can make a Top 10 push. The towering server sees former Australian Open junior champion Korda perhaps possessing the highest ceiling of that talented group.
"To me, I think you're splitting hairs with Jenson and Sebastian," Isner told the media in Indian Wells. "Sebastian has had a tough go this year trying to close out matches. Ultimately, I think all these experiences are going to be a good thing for him. To me it doesn't seem like he's panicking at all. His game is there. One of the most fluid games I've seen in a while.
"I mean, him and Jenson? I don't know. In my estimation, maybe Sebastian has a real, real high ceiling. He just hasn't put it together this year."
Seeing Brooksby, who took a set off Novak Djokovic at the US Open last September, continuing his climb Isner believes the Top 10 will see have a red, white and blue hue.
"Jenson, everyone talks about his serve. He's going to improve that incrementally over the years," Isner said. "When he does, he's going to be that much better.
"We haven't talked about Brendon Nakashima as much. He hasn't done as much this year, but he's someone that I think has a bright future also. Between those guys, the older guys ranked ahead of them right now, Frances, Reilly, Tommy, Taylor, we're in a good spot.
"I do think getting two players in the top 10 sometime in the near future is very conceivable."
Photo credit: CameraSport