Image courtesy of Sky Sports
The American has now won seven ATP Tour titles in his career after a 6-7 7-6 7-6 victory over second seed Kevin Anderson.
Isner will collect a cool $98,000 in prize money and 250 ranking points which will see him move back into the world top 20.
"This is a tournament where I could’ve been out in my
first match," said Isner, who edged Christian Harrison in
his opener. "I lived on the edge all week and seemed to come through each
and every time. It’s very encouraging.”
Isner saved 11 break points and hit 24 aces during the two and 54 minute final, the longest best of three set finals this season.
"I’ve been on the wrong end of a final that close
before - maybe not three tie-breakers close, but super close, having match
point, having a lot of chances - so it feels good to be on the other end of
that. I never wavered. I believed that even at 0/40 that I could still hold on
and was able to come up with the goods."
In the first set the match went with serve. Isner saved two set points at 4-5, 15/4-, in a long service hold. But Anderson pulled away at 3-3 in the tie-break, winning 4 straight games and taking the set in 54 minutes.
Anderson saved one break point early on in the second set, which was decided by another tie-break. At 2-2 the momentum was in Isner's court as he won 5 games in a row in another 54 minute set.
In the second game of the final set, Isner saved four break points as Anderson looked set to take a 2-0 lead. At 6-5 the tension was building, Anderson couldn't convert two match points on Isner's serve at advantage.
In the tie-break in the nail biting deciding set, Isner won the first three points in the tie-break and added Atlanta to his US Men's Clay Court title.
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