Querrey rallies to beat Isner for Memphis title

Sam Querrey rallied for a 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 triumph over fellow American John Isner Sunday in the final of the ATP Tour's Memphis tournament.

Isner, the sixth seed, overpowered his doubles partner and newly named Davis Cup teammate in the first set, but faltered after taking a 5-2 lead in the second-set tiebreaker.

Eighth-seeded Querrey, who upset top-seeded Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals, battled back to claim the third title of his career and first of 2010. Querrey was injured in October in Bangkok after falling through a glass coffee table and suffering a cut to a muscle in his forearm that required 25 stitches.

He missed six weeks and spent the winter rehabbing his arm and now will jump from 31st in the world to the high 20s in the world rankings. "This is the first match we've played," Querrey said of his first match against his friend, hitting partner and, for next month's tie against Serbia - Davis Cup teammate. "Hopefully over the next 10 years we'll play 10 or 15 times. I'm sure I'll win some and he'll win some."

Querrey, who was never broken in the match, won two straight points on Isner's serve to take a 6-5 lead in the second-set tiebreaker and rolled from there.

He broke Isner for a 2-1 lead in the third, and broke again to seal the match.

Isner had been in firm control, taking a 5-2 lead in the second-set tiebreaker when Querrey mis-hit a return.

AFP