Querrey Tops Isner To Clinch Memphis Title

© Ron AngleSam Querrey wins his third ATP World Tour title.

American Sam Querrey defeated close friend and Davis Cup teammate John Isner 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-3 to clinch his third ATP World Tour title on Sunday at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis.

Afterwards, Querrey and Isner teamed up to capture the doubles title with a 6-4, 6-4 win over the British-Australian duo of Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr.

Querrey collected $261,500 and 500 South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings points as the singles champion of the ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard-court tournament, while runner-up Isner received 300 points and $121,600.

“It feels great,” said Querrey. “It’s tough playing your good buddy like that. If anyone else won a tournament I’d want it to be him. You’re not going to get the same reaction out of me for winning this than if I was playing someone else.”

The 22 year old improved to a 3-4 record in ATP World Tour finals, adding to the titles he won in 2008 at Las Vegas and last year at the LA Tennis Open. Querrey reached a total of five ATP World Tour finals in 2009, including three straight on home soil during the summer swing.

World No. 31 Querrey opened his 2010 season with three first-round losses in Australia, but got back on track last week at the SAP Open in San Jose, where he fell to top American Andy Roddick in the semi-finals despite never facing a single break point on serve.

Coming into the tallest ATP World Tour final, the 6’6” Querrey and 6’9” Isner had dropped serve three times total – Querrey winning 40 of 41 service games and Isner 46 of 48 – and Sunday’s match proved another battle between the big servers.  

Watch Final Highlights  |  Watch Querrey Interview

After saving two set points while serving at 4-5 in the opening set, the eighth-seeded Querrey lost the opening set in the tie-break and needed to fight off another break point in the ensuing set to keep his title hopes alive.

He levelled the scoreline by winning the second set tie-break, and maintained his momentum in the decisive set as he converted on his first break point at 1-1 to assume the lead for the first time.

Querrey denied the No. 6 seed any chances to get back into the match as he dropped just three points total on serve in the final set, and broke his opponent one final time to close out the victory in just under two hours.

“To be honest, I felt like I was in control of the match the first two sets, although they were really close,” said Isner. “I had the match on my racquet, that’s all I can ask for. But credit to him, he played well when it counted – better than me – which is hard because I like to think I play really well in those situations as I have in the past.”

The meeting between Querrey and Isner was the first all-American final in Memphis since 2003 when Taylor Dent defeated Roddick. It was also the first all-American final on the ATP World Tour since July 2009 when Robby Ginepri defeated Querrey in Indianapolis.

“It’s the first time we’ve played,” said Querrey. “I’m sure the next 10 years we’ll play another 10-15 times. I’m sure he’ll win some of those, I’ll win some of those, and it’s tough but it’s just something we’ve got to deal with.”

The 24-year-old Isner was looking to become the second two-time winner this season after Croatia’s Marin Cilic. Isner made a triumphant start to 2010, saving one match point against Frenchman Arnaud Clement to claim his maiden title at the Heineken Open in Auckland, and achieving a personal-best fourth round finish at the Australian Open (l. to Murray).

With a 12-2 record, the World No. 25 currently stands alongside Russian Nikolay Davydenko at third on the list of match wins leaders in 2010, trailing just Cilic (15-1) and Roddick (15-3).

“I’m really happy for him,” said Isner. “I wish it would’ve gone the other way, looked like it might’ve, but it wasn’t meant to be. I’ve got to put it behind me and get better from it.”

In two weeks, Querrey and Isner will travel to Serbia for a first-round Davis Cup tie. But first, the pair will head to the Abierto Mexicano Telcel to compete for the ATP World Tour 500 clay-court title in Acapulco.