• ATP Tour

Querrey beats partner in Memphis

Good friends Sam Querrey and John Isner compare trophies © AP

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Ferrero back in top 20 after back-to-back titles
  

Sam Querrey overcame Davis Cup partner John Isner in the final of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships before the two big-serving Americans teamed up to win the doubles final later on Sunday.

Both tall, both young, both American, both good friends, there isn't much between the two on paper and there was even less difference on the court, as Querrey edged a 6-7 7-6 6-3 epic after completing the match's only two breaks in the third set.

Isner looked to have the match in his grasp as he pushed ahead 5-2 in the second set tie-break, but Querrey found a way to win the big points to turn it around and force a deciding set.

The momentum swung in 22-year-old Querrey's favour and finally the crowd saw a chink in Isner's serve as he crumbled in the third, after the 205cm giant had failed to give up so much as a break point in the first two sets.

Querrey said afterwards: "It feels great. It's tough playing your good buddy like that. If anyone else won a tournament I'd want it to be him. You're not going to get the same reaction out of me for winning this than if I was playing someone else.

"It's the first time we've played. I'm sure the next 10 years we'll play another 10-15 times. I'm sure he'll win some of those, I'll win some of those, and it's tough but it's just something we've got to deal with."

Querrey's prediction of a long and fruitful rivalry between the two at the top of the sport looks realistic enough given each player has now won a title this season, after Isner's success in Auckland. Isner, who is behind only Marin Cilic and Andy Roddick in match wins for 2010, said he regretted letting the match slip after having it at the mercy of his massive serve in the second set tie-break.

"To be honest, I felt like I was in control of the match the first two sets, although they were really close," said Isner. "I had the match on my racquet, that's all I can ask for. But credit to him, he played well when it counted - better than me - which is hard because I like to think I play really well in those situations as I have in the past.

"I'm really happy for him. I wish it would've gone the other way, looked like it might've, but it wasn't meant to be. I've got to put it behind me and get better from it."

After setting their differences aside, Querrey/Isner took the court against Brit Ross Hutchins and Australian Jordan Kerr, winning the doubles final 6-4 6-4.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.