By E.J. Crawford
The 2015 Memphis Open has added another big player commitment – one of the biggest in the world, in fact. Six-foot-10 John Isner, the top-ranked American in the world rankings, is joining 2014 US Open finalist and two-time defending Memphis champion Kei Nishikori in committing to the event.
Isner currently is No. 19 in the world, giving Memphis two early Top 20 commitments. Nishikori currently is No. 5.
The former University of Georgia star will be making his seventh appearance in Memphis. He reached the final in 2010, losing to fellow American Sam Querrey, and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2012. Isner also teamed with Querrey to win the 2010 Memphis doubles title.
Isner is coming off a solid 2014 in which he won tournament titles in Auckland, New Zealand, and at the Emirates Airline US Open Series event in Atlanta. He also reached the round of 16 at the French Open and the third round at both Wimbledon and the US Open.
Isner ascended to a career-high ranking of No. 9 in 2012 and posted his best Grand Slam result at the US Open in 2011, when he reached the quarterfinals. He has won nine tour singles titles and three doubles titles in his career, and has been a Davis Cup stalwart and a steady presence at the top of the world rankings. In fact, 2014 will mark the fifth consecutive year he has finished in the Top 20.
The Memphis Open runs Feb. 7 to Feb. 15, at the Racquet Club of Memphis. For ticket information, click here.