THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2022

John Isner

Press Conference

J. ISNER/A. Murray

6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: John, just your thoughts on tonight's match.

JOHN ISNER: Yeah, I played, in my mind, incredibly well. Of course, I served well. But I think outside of my serve, I did some good things. Of course, I didn't win many of the baseline rallies with Andy, but I think I did what I needed to do to get a break in the first and the fourth set. My serve carried me home from there.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Sometimes players stick to Plan A and hope it comes off, other players might feel out a match and adapt as it goes on. Generally you might be in the former. Given you went into this match 0-8 against Andy, was there any part of you that thought to change that mindset?

JOHN ISNER: I don't have too many weapons at my disposal to try anything different. I have one big weapon, right? I need that to be working.

So it's always go after my serve, hold serve as best as I can, which I did out there tonight, and see what I can do after that.

Yeah, I was 0-8 against Andy, but we've had a lot of close matches. I've had opportunities; just haven't been able to close the door, so... Tonight I guess I was able to.

It's a huge incredible honor for me to play against him on that court. He's a Hall of Famer. It was pretty special.

Q. How would you describe the sense of satisfaction you're feeling right now at this stage of your career because of the moment and the opponent?

JOHN ISNER: Yeah, no, that was an amazing moment for me out there at 37. I think that's, to my knowledge, only the third match I played on Centre Court, one of which was at the Olympics in 2012. So I haven't had many opportunities on that court.

To be able to get a win on Centre against Andy Murray is something I'll certainly I think remember forever. This is why I still play, it's why I still work hard. So I'm still eager to get up in the morning and work out and get my body feeling right, is to have moments like that.

At 37, it was much easier 10 years ago for sure, but I work my ass off to try to give myself opportunities like that. It kind of makes it all worth it, for sure.

Q. What is something that Andy is so good on returning? How did you manage to beat him today?

JOHN ISNER: Well, I had an exceptional serving day out there tonight, and I needed it for sure. But Andy is so good at getting his racquet on my serve, just getting it back in play. He's able to take it from there.

Even when I'm in an offensive position, he's one of the greatest ever at passing players at the net, lobbing players at the net, just keeping the point alive. That's what he's done eight times prior against me.

He did it out there today. But as I said, when he would have an opportunity, Love-30, 15-30, 30-All, I didn't allow him to play with my serve. So that's just huge for me. It's a massive weapon. Without it, no shot I can beat him.

I had it firing on all cylinders tonight.

Q. Andy mentioned he was impressed by your net play, touch, drop volleys. Is that something you thought about before the match?

JOHN ISNER: Look, I really think I have a good drop volley. It just sort of comes naturally to me. Grass is the best surface to drop volley on. The ball just sort of dies once it gets over the net.

I definitely had a good night with it, for sure. But oftentimes when I come to the net, I'm going to hit a drop volley. Those short volleys on grass are much better, in my opinion, than ones that are stuck through the middle of the court. I don't give my opponent a shot to pass me.

Q. Or even touch the ball.

JOHN ISNER: Or even touch the ball, exactly.

Yeah, that's something that's always come natural to me at the net. Of course, I work on it, too. Definitely worked on my net game prior to here. You don't know if it's going to pay off in any sense. It almost didn't. I almost lost first round down two sets to one.

I certainly feel comfortable at the net right now.

Q. Stats in tennis are kind of an oddball thing at certain times. In your game how important to you are aces? What is the all-time record for aces that you're approaching mean to you?

JOHN ISNER: Yeah, I think I'll get it in my next match over the course of five sets. I should be able to get six aces.

Yeah, it's actually pretty cool. It's not going to put me in the Hall of Fame or anything like that, because that's not me. But I will be the all-time leader. I'll keep playing, keep adding to my total. I don't think that's a record that -- I don't know if it will get broken. I could be up there for a long time.

It's actually really cool. It's something I'm really proud of.

Q. When did it start meaning something to you and when did you realize that you're getting to that sort of position?

JOHN ISNER: Well, I knew at some point last year. Ivo, I don't know if he's retired or what, but he hasn't played in a long time. I knew I would kind of eventually track him down. I'm right on the precipice of that.

It will be pretty cool. Looks like Jannik Sinner will be on the receiving end of the record breaker. I mean, I hope I didn't totally jinx myself, right (laughter)? But I think I should be able to get six or seven aces in my next match. We'll see.

Q. How is it that you envision celebrating such a moment if it doesn't occur at the end of a game?

JOHN ISNER: Look, I will be probably thinking about it in my next match knowing it's either six or seven. Once I hit that number, whatever, not going to make an announcement or anything, but I'll know I have the record and it will be pretty cool.