By Chris Oddo                                                                          Photo Credit: AP

(April 15, 2012)—Despite losing a hard-fought three-set final to clay-court specialist Juan Monaco in Houston today, the future looks bright for the newly crowned top-ranked American.

Even after John Isner’s grueling 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 loss to one of the tour’s most dangerous players on clay, it is abundantly clear that the 26-year-old is making great strides in all facets of his game.

“All in all it was a good effort,” said Isner of the extremely physical affair with Monaco. “I think it was the best match I played all week.”

Isner, who had won seven straight clay-court matches, including eyebrow-raising triumphs over Roger Federer, Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Davis Cup action, will take a week off to work on his game in the States before heading across the Atlantic to join the European clay court swing in Madrid.

When he hits the practice courts near his home in Tampa, Florida, Isner will do it with the satisfaction of knowing the he is the 12th different player to hold the distinction of the top-ranked American.

All but one of them has entered the ATP’s top five at some point in their career. The way Isner is playing, he appears headed for the same destiny.

“Things are in pretty good shape,” said an upbeat Isner afterwards. “I just have to keep working. Simple as that. When I get on that flight to go over to Madrid I should be feeling pretty good.”

While Monaco is certainly no Nadal or Djokovic, the 28-year-old Argentine is no pushover either, particularly on clay. Monaco is fourth on the ATP tour in clay-court wins in 2012, and he’s currently high on confidence, having ended a five-year-long title drought that saw him lose seven consecutive finals from 2007 to 2011.

Today the Argentine was relentless from the baseline, and remarkably sound against Isner’s terrifying serve. Monaco earned fifteen break points over the course of the match, converting on three—including the biggest one of the day, late in the third set with the match on the line.

“He was just a little bit better than me,” said Isner. “He got the break in the third set, I didn’t get the break in the third set. That’s what it really comes down to.”

After failing to convert on all nine break chances he faced in the second set, a seemingly tireless Monaco didn’t lose heart. In the third, he would only need one chance, and when Isner sent a backhand swinging volley into the tram lines, Monaco found himself serving for the match.

Moments later, when his backhand passing shot eluded Isner at match point, the Argentine had his fifth career ATP title and a career-high ranking of 13.

“The final set was like a battle,” said Monaco. “We fought until the last point. I think we played a great final.”

Still, Isner’s disappointing day was not without a triumphant feel. His run of surprisingly successful clay-court tennis has fueled hope that the tall American could end a regrettably bad period of American tennis on the surface. There is also the belief that Isner, who reached the top ten for the first time on March 19, has the potential to climb even higher.

Always revered for his serve, forehand and poise, Isner has quelled concerns about his fitness and movement this season. He’s found ways to shorten points with his deadly forehand, but he’s also demonstrated the ability to stretch points out with solid defense and a keen awareness of the anatomy of points.

While Sunday may not have been the greatest of days for Isner, there is the feeling that the first quarter of the season might be a sign that many great days have yet to come for him.

But those days can wait at least a few weeks, according to Isner. When asked if he had any remorse about not joining Juan Monaco in a mad rush to catch a flight to Monte Carlo, Isner was quick to say he’d rather not be in the Argentine’s shoes. “It sounds absolutely miserable,” Isner said. “He’s going to get on a flight tonight. That’s the life of a tennis player—sometimes you have to do it.”