John Isner Is A Tall Son Of A Gun

Rowan here, keeping up the Auckland blogging coverage thing. The Heineken Open started today! Nice and breezy day one, the top four seeds have first round byes so it’ll be a slow burn for the first two days.

Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Japanese whiz kid Kei Nishikori when Kei retired in the first set, sore arm, a bummer. He didn’t look too distraught but I imagine he is saving himself for the Australian Open. I can tell why he’s supposed to be good though, he hit some smooth winners. But I’m glad Ferrero got through, he was runner up last year, everybody loves him. He’s the Mosquito.

Auckland could be a good event for Americans. Sam Querrey and Robby Ginepri both won their first round matches in straight sets today, against Kiwi wildcards sure, but they got the job done. Sam Querrey seems very relaxed, a laid back young man. And John Isner and Bobby Reynolds won their final qualifying matches to make the main draw. Isner played on centre court, he is HUGE. Like, pro wrestler tall. But I know that Ivo Karlovic is even taller, so I’m trying not to be too wowed. I see lots of tiebreaks in Isner’s future.