THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 27, 2022

John Isner

Press Conference

J. ISNER/E. Couacaud

6-7, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: What are your thoughts of today's match?

JOHN ISNER: Yeah, it was a tough match. I knew it would be. I haven't played any warmup events and got over here on Thursday.

You know, in qualifying he who won three matches and certainly feels pretty comfortable on grass, at least more than I do right now.

You know, my serve carried me through the day. Was able to win it in five sets. I definitely expect to feel more comfortable on Wednesday. We will see what I can do.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. How much PTSD does being in a fifth set on Court 18 give you?

JOHN ISNER: Good question. A lot. Everybody asked me about my memories on that court, and it's nightmares. I lost in five sets last year on that court. I won one today. I've spent a lot of hours playing on that court.

Q. Did you ever think about requesting not to play there?

JOHN ISNER: I'm a nobody. I can't go request what court to play on at Wimbledon. You know, let's be honest.

No, I just was kind of praying I wouldn't be on that court. The schedule came out, and I go, Shit. It happens.

Q. Was that a conscious decision to come over late? What were the circumstances...

JOHN ISNER: Yeah, no, it was. I was in Europe for a good bit on the clay, and I was back home. I just wanted to be home with my wife and kids. I was just enjoying that.

Definitely will be playing a lot this summer back in the States. But of course I wasn't going to miss this tournament. It kind of was a decision to play a warmup. I was entered in Mallorca but pulled out.

I'm healthy but just wanted to get over here a little late and rest up and just be with my family.

Q. (Off mic.)

JOHN ISNER: You know, when I made the semifinals here, I didn't play a warmup event. But I didn't play one last year and lost the first round. I mean, I'm going to play some close matches out here, and it's just whether or not I can win them.

Q. You may play Andy next round. How do you feel about that?

JOHN ISNER: It would be amazing. I hope to play on Centre Court against him. I actually haven't played there -- I think only twice, in the semifinals a few years ago, and I played Roger there at the Olympics.

It was a different feel there, of course. Would love another opportunity to play on that court, because, you know, could be my last chance.

Q. You played Andy at the French Open.

JOHN ISNER: Andy? I don't know if I played him at the French Open before. Andy beat me at the French Open?

Q. According to the records.

JOHN ISNER: Wow. I don't remember that. I know I have never beaten him, so actually it's not surprising, yeah.

Q. On that note, you haven't played him on the grass. Obviously if he gets through, he will have the home crowd, but with your serve, do you think that might give you with sort of the physical fitness he's in that that might be your best chance to beat him?

JOHN ISNER: Well, I don't know. I mean, he's so comfortable on the grass, more comfortable than I am. He has a lot more wins at this tournament than I do (smiling).

I mean, grass maybe is his best surface. It's probably not my best surface. But as you said, it does a lot of good on my serve. I mean, I had 54 aces today.

Andy is a different animal. He's much harder to ace because his anticipation is just amazing. The grass does certainly help my serve out.

Q. What do you make of the resilience he's shown in the last few years? A few years ago people were thinking he was retiring and he's still going now. Pretty impressive?

JOHN ISNER: Oh, yeah, it's very admirable. He's a legend of our sport, and it's really amazing to see him still going, a guy like him.

Rafa, Novak, Roger, you know, is planning to be back here next year. We are so lucky to still have these guys playing and playing well.

Q. Does it inspire you to keep going and going?

JOHN ISNER: Yeah.

Q. You want to play for many more years?

JOHN ISNER: Not many more years. I'm older than Andy so I'm no spring chicken, but I work hard, too. I mean, I do a lot of stuff to keep myself healthy.

You know, I'm trying not to play as much, as many tournaments as I did maybe 10 years ago. I'm trying to take the pressure off me as well.

I don't really care about results too much. I just try and enjoy myself at these amazing events that I get to play in throughout the world.

Q. You mentioned Rafa a moment ago. As you have seen his 2022 evolve, what has struck you the most about what he's done and how he's done it?

JOHN ISNER: Well, I mean, it's not surprising he won the French Open. I think him winning the Aussie Open was maybe a little bit out of nowhere because I think the last time he had one was 2009. Is that accurate?

It's just amazing. What you know you are going to get is him literally never, ever, ever giving an inch on the court. He may not be playing that well. He may be playing great. He's going to compete the same exact way. As long as his body is feeling good, he's such a hard person to beat because, you know, you've got to, mentally you have got to be able to believe that you can beat him. It's just not an easy thing to do, especially at a Grand Slam.

What he's done is beyond belief. It's insane to win one tournament 14 times, a Grand Slam, 22 total. It's remarkable.

As I kind of mentioned just before, we are super lucky to have him still in the game.

Q. Wimbledon, when you walk onto the grounds, what are the little details about this place that are most striking to you?

JOHN ISNER: Just how beautiful it is. I have some friends over from the States that have never been here before, and they're not even like the biggest tennis fans in the world, but they wanted to come over here and check it out. They are just completely in awe of this place. It's just perfect.

You know, they do an amazing job of manicuring the grounds, and every little flower that's cut is just done to perfection. It's a really cool thing. Even if you are not a tennis fan, this is something that should be on your bucket list to see if you are a sports fan. It's amazing here.

Q. You said you are more selective about what you do. What boxes need to be ticked? How do you work out what is the right fit for you for what you play and what you don't?

JOHN ISNER: Well, I know my body pretty well. After playing over in Europe, and it was a long haul, I just needed to rest a bit. I do know that I need to work smarter at this stage, not necessarily harder.

I also will tend to play my most tennis in the summer in the States. I want to rest up for that. I want to try to be as healthy as I can be for that.

I have had, like the Queen's event, an amazing, beautiful court, but those courts don't jibe with me. I find them slippery and it's more hard for me to move. I didn't want to play there, if I just wanted to play the week before, and I pulled out.

Q. I suppose it's the furthest thing from your mind, but the tournament in Auckland, hasn't been there for three years. You have been there nine times in the past. Would you like to come back next year?

JOHN ISNER: Yeah, I would love to. I love Auckland. One of my first-ever ATP titles there and would love to go back there. Is it the week before again?

Q. Yeah.

JOHN ISNER: So the place is amazing. Maybe see what I do beginning of the year next year. I'd love to have my whole family come down there if they are allowed and restrictions, whatnot. Hopefully everything eases up there.

Q. You were talking in Paris not knowing what sort of attitude there would be towards this tournament, people with ranking points. Wondering how that's borne out for you and in the locker room generally? Everyone showed up.

JOHN ISNER: Everyone showed up, and everyone seems to be a bit more relaxed I think. Of course you want to play Wimbledon. But the pressure of points, which is really what kind of gets guys nervous and makes them choke or make them play well, it's not there.

So obviously we are all really, really happy to be here. But I think it feels to me that most everyone is pretty relaxed and, you know, going to accept the result either way, don't have to worry about their ranking going up or going down. Me losing first round of course I would maybe wish to have points, but it is what it is.

Q. I guess you are about to face Andy Murray on Centre Court. That would still feel like a big occasion?

JOHN ISNER: Oh, absolutely. I was watching him a little bit on the TV in the locker room, packed house all cheering for him, one of their best players ever, England's best players ever. It would be a cool, cool thing. As I said, I have some friends here. Would love to have them be able to watch me on Centre Court.

Q. You said you have played twice on Centre before. What do you love about it?

JOHN ISNER: Just the atmosphere there. Walking out onto Centre Court, it's probably the coolest thing we have in our sport. Super hallowed grounds. To be able to play on that court is very special.