11 Jan 2014

Isner feeling good after Auckland win

6:28 pm on 11 January 2014

Despite coming into the Heineken tennis Open with a troubling ankle injury, the American number one John Isner ended the week by winning his second Auckland title.

Isner beat Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu in straight sets to add to his maiden ATP Tour title in 2010 - still the 28-year-old's only triumphs outside the USA.

But Isner says he never expected to win the Auckland tournament.

He says sometimes when you come into an event with no expectations, that can work out more than if you were confident.

Isner says his ankle was the best it's been all week in the final, though he's glad he's not playing til Tuesday at next week's Australian Open, where he's the 13th seed.

Isner faces a qualifier first up but he's on the toughest side of the draw, in line for a fourth-round clash with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, a potential quarter-final with Roger Federer, and a semi against Rafael Nadal.