Monday 3 August 2015 06:16, UK
Top seed John Isner made it three Atlanta Open titles in a row when he beat an injury-hampered Marcos Baghdatis 6-3 6-3 in Sunday’s final.
Isner took less than an hour to defeat Baghdatis on a very hot afternoon at Atlantic Station. The American dropped just three points on serve all match as he secured a 10th career ATP title.
However, Cypriot Baghdatis was hampered from the start, apparently by a troublesome groin muscle/tendon problem that first flared up more than a month ago.
He took an injury time-out after the first set but got even slower as the match progressed and his first final since 2011 ended up being something of an anti-climax.
Isner, who sent down 13 aces, said to Baghdatis at the on-court trophy presentation: "I didn't want to win like that.
"I hope you're back healthy and back on tour in just a little bit. You're a class act and I enjoyed playing you today."
The fifth-seeded Baghdatis said: "That's not the way I wanted to finish a tournament but my body couldn't handle it today.
"I'm really sorry I couldn't compete 100 per cent but I tried my best. It's not a new injury, the muscles got really tight. I felt it immediately on my second serve and volley."
Isner said he was delighted to be back on hard courts after a summer spent so far playing mainly on clay in Europe and grass at Wimbledon.
"I feel at home on this court, I play so well here,” he said. "It's my favourite surface, hardcourt like this that bounces pretty high."
