John Isner knocked out of U.S. Open

NEW YORK — John Isner had played long and late Thursday to pull out a physically taxing four-set win over flashy Frenchman Gael Monfils, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4) at the U.S. Open.

The New York crowd had firmly planted itself on the side of the Frenchman, chanting Monfils’ name and standing when he would take a tumble, get up and hit a winner.

On Saturday, Isner got another chance against 22nd-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber, a more subdued German who had upset Isner in the third round here last year. He did the same this time, knocking out the top American man, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5). Isner had said he was “disappointed” with the crowd Thursday. Saturday he was just disappointed in himself.

After Jack Sock was unable to upset 18th-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, who beat the 20-year-old, 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-1, 6-2, in the third round, the only American man left in the singles draw is Tim Smyczek, ranked 109th in the world and scheduled Sunday against 43rd-ranked Marcel Granollers of Spain.

Isner said he wasn’t bothered by a sore thigh that seemed to annoy him sometimes. “It hurt on a few instances,” he said, “but once I got really warm, that wasn’t the reason I lost at all.

“It was more of a fatigue thing, which was my own fault. You know, I felt like I wore myself out getting charged up out there. It’s hard to explain, but I used too much energy doing that.”

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