Mental boost helps Isner reach his tennis peak at age 33

John Isner is playing the best tennis of his career at age 33, thanks in part to marriage and impending fatherhood plus long-lasting confidence after winning the Miami Open.

The 33-year-old American produced his deepest Grand Slam run to the Wimbledon semi-finals, reaching a career-high eighth in the world rankings, and began his hardcourt campaign last week with a fifth Atlanta title in six seasons.

Isner reached this week's ATP Washington Open, where he burst onto the scene 11 years ago, hungry to extend the greatest campaign of his career as the US Open approaches.

"It does feel that way," Isner said Tuesday of this being his best season. "I've had a lot of good years the past eight years. This year, I've been more consistent with my results.

"I think this is the best I'm playing on the court in all aspects. I feel like I'm playing my best tennis ever. I'm 33 right now and I'm playing my best tennis ever."
"Starting a family, raising a very nice polite daughter, that's what's the most important thing going on for me."
"I carried that into Miami and that's when the season started. To my credit, I didn't lift off the gas. I kept my foot down and kept working and carried that through the rest of the season."
"I've kept those feelings. I haven't forgotten about that. In situations, I can refer back to that, not so much tactically but when I was so calm. That was maybe the toughest mental effort of my career in Miami and I've been able to keep accomplishing that this year."
- 'Lightning in a bottle' -
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"It's not as difficult as some people think," Isner said. "It's the semi-final of Wimbledon. The moment itself gets you physically jacked up and mentally jacked up and adrenaline takes over. That gets you through a lot of the fatigue."