Follow us on Google Discover John Isner enjoyed a fantastic career on the ATP Tour, on which he played during a time of dominance from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Isner won 16 ATP titles during his time on the court, and reached a career-high of number eight in the world rankings.
Jannik Sinner thinks Isner has the best serve ever, with that skill having helped the American to much of his success.
It is indeed the towering figure who sits at the very top of the pile for aces on the ATP Tour, having hit 14,470 from his 772 matches.
But arguably holding him back from further success were the stunning displays of the Big Three of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty ImagesJohn Isner picks who made him the most nervous between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
Isner has now shared insight into his feelings towards the trio, having been asked on the Nothing Major Show which of the three players made him the most nervous the first time he played against them.
He replied: “It was probably Roger, because I played him right out of college. I finished college in May, and I played him at the US Open a few months later, of course on Arthur Ashe.
“I would say Roger. But I don’t know, I wasn’t really like nervous. You have absolutely nothing to lose when you play these guys. Yes, it’s a big occasion. I guess it certainly wasn’t the most nervous I’ve ever been in my career.
“But I would say Roger wasn’t maybe nerves, I probably felt the most overwhelmed playing him in that stadium, in front of that crowd if that makes sense.”
Reminded by Sam Querrey that he won the first set in a tie breaker, Isner said: “Yeah, of course I did. And then I lost two, four and two afterwards. That was fun.”
Querrey then asked Isner where he first played against Nadal, to which he replied: “I think Roland Garros, when I took him to five.
“I could be wrong there though. It was 2011. I think that was the first time I played him. I could be wrong there.”
And asked if he remembers when he played against Djokovic for the first time, he said: “No, I can’t,” before adding: “Holy cow, I played Rafa twice before that match.”
John Isner’s record vs Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
Isner was shocked when he noticed he had indeed taken on legendary figure Nadal earlier than he first thought.
He finished his career with one win and eight losses against the Spaniard, with figures of 2-8 and 2-10 against Federer and Djokovic respectively.
Roger FedererRafael NadalNovak DjokovicTotalWins2125Losses881026John Isner’s record vs the Big ThreeHow Jack Sock felt about playing Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
Isner’s fellow American Jack Sock was also on hand to discuss his first-ever encounters with the iconic trio on the court.
Similarly to Isner, Sock said of who made him the most nervous: “I think I had different feelings as well, kind of like John said.
“I think definitely most overwhelmed by Roger. I’m trying to think, might have been 2017 Indian Wells in the semis.
“Definitely Roger. I was more like nervous-excited to play Roger, because it’s Roger I think. And yeah, just the aura he brings.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup
“I would say I was most nervous scoreline-wise actually to play Novak. I played him in a summer in the Masters series in Canada, because I knew if he was playing well and my style of game versus his, I would get destroyed, which I did, two and two.
“So I think I was most nervous to get embarrassed tennis-wise, by Novak. And I was least nervous to play Rafa just because I actually felt like I could hang in there more or have a chance.
“I feel like we played similar, opposite hands. But yeah Roger just because of what he brings, aura like I said.
“And then Novak, just I didn’t want to get embarrassed if he just made every single ball, and every return. And then Rafa, but I only played Novak once and Rafa a bunch.”
Roger FedererRafael NadalNovak DjokovicTotalWins0000Losses46111Jack Sock’s record vs the Big Three
As he mentioned, Sock lost his sole meeting with Djokovic, while he went 0-4 against Federer and 0-6 against Nadal.
Intriguingly, however, Sock did indeed take on Federer in the latter’s final tennis match at the 2022 Laver Cup before retiring.
And it was the American who emerged victorious, partnering compatriot Frances Tiafoe to defeat Federer and Nadal in doubles.