News-Record.com

Earlier today, John Isner knocked off Simone Vagnozzi, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of the Hypo Group Tennis International tournament in Poertschach.

I know what you're wondering. Why is this a big win for Isner? Who is Simone Vagnozzi? Where, exactly, is Poertschach?

Let me answer those in reverse order. Poertschach is a resort town of about 2,600 people on the north shore of Lake Woerth, in Austria. (Right on the tip of your tongue, wasn't it?)

Simone Vagnozzi is a 25-year-old (okay, he'll be 25 on May 30, but really, who's counting?) Italian qualifier who came into the Hypo tournament ranked No. 288 in the world. He's obscure enough that they don't even have a picture of him up on his ATP page.

I know. You're still wondering why this win was a big deal for Isner.

Because it was on clay. It's Isner's first ATP win that surface, which usually functions as a sort of kryptonite for American players (just ask Pete Sampras).

It's a surface that's particularly bad for American players who games based around powerful serves (again, check with Pete). And it's a surface that really puts a premium on mobility. There's a reason why the quicksilver Rafael Nadal is the King of Clay.

So you can see why this would not be a good setting for the 6-9 Isner. But give him credit for even trying.

When I spoke to Isner earlier this season, I asked if he'd be playing the clay circuit that serves as the run-up to next week's French Open. I was half expecting (okay, more than half) him to say that he was going to hold off on tackling clay and would choose instead to stay on the hard courts for now. The tournaments wouldn't be as prestigious, but he'd have a chance to build up some ranking points while not taking his lumps on the slow stuff.

Isner didn't hesitate. Of course he'd be playing on clay, he said. Of course he planned to play in the French Open. He didn't seem insulted by more question but rather confused that I'd even asked it, as if he hadn't pondered ducking clay.

It's an admirable mindset to have, and one that bodes well for his future development. If he's not afraid to let his record, and maybe his ranking, take a hit, then he'll get valuable experience that will help him on clay and likely will be a benefit when Isner returns to harder, faster surfaces.

Isner's first tournament on clay, in Houston, ended with a first-round loss. He then dropped down a level back to the Challenger series, but still managed to reach just the second-round in Bermuda. Isner then won two rounds to reach the quarterfinals in Tunica. Progress, yes, but not on the ATP level.

Until now.

If Isner knocks off Nikolay Davydenko in the second round, it would be a colossal upset. But even if he loses, he'll still have taken another step in his career. It'll be a small one in the rankings - Isner should move into the 70's with the points he gets - but it could be a big one for his future.