Atlanta Open: Reilly Opelka ends John Isner's title defence

Dominant at the Atlanta Open previously, John Isner was downed by Reilly Opelka in the second round.

This was John Isner's third loss Opelka this year.

John Isner's bid for a sixth Atlanta Open title came to an end in a second-round loss to Reilly Opelka on Wednesday. The big-serving Americans were unable to break before Opelka edged a 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5) victory.

Top seed Isner served 33 aces and Opelka sent down 31 at the ATP 250 event played on hard-courts in Georgia. A five-time champion and three-time runner-up at the tournament, Isner bowed out after his third loss to Opelka this year.

This year will be just the second time Isner has not reached the final in Atlanta and first since 2012. Two-time defending champion Isner was one of three seeds to fall as Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Radu Albot also departed.

What a fighter! @ReillyOpelka#AtlantaOpen#USOpenSeriespic.twitter.com/EXCvHsPOAC

— BB&T Atlanta Open (@BBTatlantaopen) July 25, 2019

 

Herbert went down to Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 6-3 and Albot suffered a 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-2 loss to Dan Evans.

In the day's other match, Cameron Norrie was too good for qualifier Kwon Soon-woo 6-3, 6-4.