Isner claims fourth BB&T Atlanta Open

“There wasn’t much that separated us at all,” Isner said of his friend Harrison. “ … So I’m happy to win that match in straight sets … Very happy to win today. It was a battle and took every ounce of my energy out there. Just more importantly, I’m so happy to win this tournament again. This tournament’s meant everything to me.”

This year marked the third all-American Atlanta Open final since its 2010 inception (2010, 2011). Isner has won all three.

After a round of 32 bye, the second-seeded Isner eliminated Vasek Pospisil, Lukas Lacko and Gilles Muller with relative ease in route to the final. He needed two tiebreakers Sunday after only playing one in his previous 14 sets.

Isner appeared to injure his knee at one point, but said his trainer addressed it and it didn’t bother him. But while trying to return a serve down 0-2 in the first tiebreaker, Isner struck his right hand against the racket, drawing blood.

“I just reacted very stupidly,” he said. “I guess it’s better than cracking my racket. But I still broke that game bleeding. It doesn’t hurt at all, but it took my mind off the match a little bit and I just wanted to get to the sideline to get this taken care of.”

Harrison, a fourth seed, also enjoyed a bye before enduring a four-hour, weather-delayed second-round match in which he snuck past John Millman. He upended up-and-comer Christopher Eubanks, then overcame Kyle Edmund, who upset No. 1 seed Jack Sock, in three sets to earn the finals match with Isner.

“We’ve both got that competitive side where we want to dig in and win,” Harrison said. “I think there were times for each of us where things got a little frustrating, but we’re really good friends so I really like John as a guy. He’s a great friend of mine so once we get done, it’s all good.”

Playing from behind isn’t Isner’s specialty, but it was hard to tell on Sunday. He played catch-up with Harrison for much of the match and fell behind both tiebreakers 0-2. Isner credited his return ability to avoid falling into too deep a hole.

Isner claimed Atlanta Open titles in 2013-2015. He lost in the final last year to Australian Nick Kyrgios. The only Atlanta Open final without Isner came in 2012, when Andy Roddick defeated Muller. The victory will move Isner ahead of Sock as the No. 1 ranked American player.

“It feels pretty good for sure,” he said. “I’ve been the top American for the better part of six years now, so to be back in that spot is cool. It’s something I do take a lot of pride in and I hope to end the year as the No. 1 American again.”

It was Harrison’s second career final, as opposed to Isner’s 24th. Harrison, 25, won his first title match in Memphis earlier this year.

“It was kind of back and forth battle there,” Harrison said. “He is always going to be tough because, you know, regardless of when you play, it’s going to come down to a couple of crucial moments. He’s used to those matches because he plays so many of them.

“He does a really good job of playing aggressive tennis and give it to you whenever there is a big point. Like during match point, he’ll go after that forehand. He’s got a lot of momentum going and I just need to keep building and putting myself in that position a lot more.”

Isner has 12 career titles, all at the ATP World Tour 250 division. He won his third Hall of Fame Open title last weekend and is 8-0 in the last two weeks, holding 80 of 81 service games in that span.

“I couldn’t ask for a better start (to the U.S. Open series),” Isner said. “Obviously, I’ve won two straight tournaments and I went to Newport knowing that physically I felt great and I just needed to get my game up to my physical level.”