'Disappointed' Isner slams US crowd for supporting French opponent Gael Monfils

US tennis star John Isner has reportedly slammed New York fans for supporting French player Gael Monfils at the US Open, saying that it felt as if he was playing in Paris and not in his home ground.

According to Sport24, Isner, the highest seeded American in the draw, defeated Monfils 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the third round in a match which finished just before midnight on Thursday on a packed Louis Armstrong Court.

However, the report said that majority of the fans supported the showman Monfils, who served up his trademark stock of leaps, bounces, flashy razor-sharp groundstrokes and smiling one-liners with the crowd in contrast to Isner, who was all business and had not managed to go beyond a simple fist pump despite his win.

Admitting that Monfils is a fun-loving person and an exciting player to watch wherever he is playing, the 13th-seeded Isner however, expressed his surprise and disappointment at the attitude of the fans, although he added that he was aware that the New Yorkers like to see long matches and fifth sets.

According to Isner, he did not want to get involved in a 'hit-and-giggle' match and just wanted to stay focused on his game, adding that he did not want to appear too friendly with the crowd during the match.

Attempting to become the first American man since Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2003 to win a Grand Slam title, Isner also said that he had a similar match at the French Open against Tommy Haas in Paris, in which the French fans were cheering for the German Haas, while his supporters were all from his own box.

Isner will be testing the patience of the home crowd again in the next round when he meets Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, the report added.