Isner Meets NRL Bulldogs

© SMP ImagesThe trio passed a football after showcasing their tennis skills.

Three Bulldogs came together on Friday at the Apia International Sydney when Georgia Bulldogs fan, John Isner, met with captain Mick Ennis and winger Steve Turner of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs National Rugby League team.

On his arrival at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Isner ran into Nicolas Mahut, with whom he made history when they contested a record three-day first-round match at Wimbledon in 2010. After greeting the Frenchman, Isner made his way to the courts where he hit with Turner and Ennis, the latter nursing a knee injury and stationed at the net, before they switched sports and passed a football.

Afterwards, World No. 18 Isner was presented with a No. 18-emblazoned Bulldogs club jersey, making him an honorary member of the club, as No. 18 is the number that the Bulldogs have dedicated to their members.

"I went to school in the south and that’s where I feel college football is most passionate, just like rugby is down here in Sydney," said Isner. "Going to school in Georgia, the Georgia Bulldogs is sort of a religion down there so I’m a big fan. With the team name being the same it’s pretty neat to meet these guys."

Isner had previously said he believed NFL to be far more physically demanding than rugby league, but when challenged on this statement by Australian journalists, the American quickly backtracked. "Well that’s the big debate," he laughed. "But these guys aren’t padded up like the NFL guys. Both sports are so tough, but the more I think about it, you’ve got to give the edge to rugby. I’ve got a lot of respect for these guys."

The 26-year-old Isner is set to make his main draw debut at the ATP World Tour 250 hard-court tennis tournament in Sydney next week. He enjoyed a strong finish to the 2011 season, almost qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a run to the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris (l. to Tsonga).