John Isner announces retirement from professional tennis

Just days before making his 17th US Open appearance, John Isner announced his upcoming retirement via social media on Wednesday.

The American, a quarterfinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2011 and 2018, will step away from the game following the tournament, leaving the ATP Tour behind to spend more time with his wife, Madison, and their four young children.

"There comes a time in every athlete's career that they have to decide to hang it up," the 38-year-old captioned on Instagram.

"For me, that time is now. I didn't come [to] this decision lightly, but I feel it is the right way to go. When I left the University of Georgia in 2007, there was no way I could have imagined playing 17 years on the ATP Tour.

"Of course, there are countless matches I wish I could have back, but I am proud of what I was able to accomplish. The journey was nothing short of incredible."

Isner's success largely came off the back of his incredible serve, which has earned him no less than 14 411 career aces, topping the list. Just five other players have passed the 10 000 ace mark.

The North Carolina native racked up 16 ATP titles and reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018, earning a career-high No.8 ranking. Wimbledon also provided the stage for his 11-hour epic with Nicholas Mahut, a record that will never be broken.

Isner went on to say that Flushing Meadows provides the perfect swansong for his lengthy career.

"The US Open will be my last tournament and I can't think of a better way to go out than competing in New York City," he continued.

"I have participated in the US Open for each of the 17 years of my career and I'm looking forward to playing my last match in front of the American fans at Flushing Meadows."

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