John Isner has admitted that there was one title he wanted more than the other out of Wimbledon and the US Open.
Isner is a former top 10 player, who ended his career at his home Grand Slam tournament of the US Open in 2023.
The now 41-year-old twice reached the US Open quarter-finals, but Isner achieved his best Grand Slam result when he made it all the way to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018.
Eight years on from his best ever run at a major, Isner has revealed if he would have rather won Wimbledon or the US Open.
John Isner claims he would rather have won Wimbledon than the US Open
In the latest episode of the Nothing Major Podcast, special guest and former Australian Open semi-finalist Kyle Edmund asked American players Isner, Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson which Grand Slam they would rather win out of Wimbledon and the US Open.
Despite being American players, both Isner and Querrey agreed that they would rather win Wimbledon, where they were both able to reach the semi-finals in their career.
Johnson opted for the US Open, but suggested that there was little between the two options for him.
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Querrey said, “I’d rather win Wimbledon.”
Isner agreed, “Yeah, Wimby.”
Querrey: “I think John Wimbledon, Stevie US Open.”
Johnson: “Yeah. I mean you’re not picking a wrong answer, I wouldn’t be upset if I won Wimbledon.”
Querrey: “The world knows what Wimbledon is, it’s Wimbledon.”
Johnson: “I know, I completely agree with you. Everybody knows what Wimbledon is, everybody.”
Isner: “Wimbledon Centre Court, it’s not the biggest court in the world, but as soon as you walk out on to the court, you know it’s different. It’s different than Arthur Ashe Stadium. Arthur Ashe Stadium, yes it’s this huge cavernous giant thing, but you feel the history right away when you walk on Wimbledon Centre Court.”
Although he lost a heartbreaking semi-final against Kevin Anderson in 2018, Isner still holds a record at Wimbledon as the winner of the longest ever Grand Slam match.
Isner beat Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, in a match that lasted 11 hours and five minutes, and took place over three days.
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The wait for another American men’s singles Grand Slam champion has been going on for some time now, with Roddick winning the 2003 US Open the last time this occurred.
However, it has been even longer since an American man won the Wimbledon singles title, with Pete Sampras the last to do so after claiming the 2000 title.
Roddick is the most recent American finalist, with his defeat to Roger Federer in the 2009 final the last time a U.S. man reached the championship match at Wimbledon.
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Both Isner and Querrey came close to reaching the Wimbledon in their careers, and Taylor Fritz also reached his first final at the grass court major last year.
It has been a strong grass court season so far for the Americans, with the likes of Ben Shelton, Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul all hoping to become Grand Slam champions for the first time at Wimbledon.
