The American horror story unfolding in the women’s draw is proving contagious in the men’s, with 16th seed John Isner the latest to join a long list of casualties on Day 1, in a four-set upset to Aussie Matthew Ebden at Australian Open 2018.
As the carnage of a 0-8 start for the American women began to sink in across the Pacific, an out-of-sorts Isner was unable to add consolation for the Stars and Stripes, bowing out in the opening round of a major for the first time since the Australian Open four years ago.
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Ebden – who was ranked No.696 in the world only 12 months ago – avenged defeat in last year’s Newport final with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-3 result.
“To find another little extra gear within myself out there with the crowd, you know, with the energy on the court, in the matches, it's a great feeling,” Ebden said.
The Australian No.2 had showed glimpses he was due for a big result when he extended eventual champion Nick Kyrgios to three sets in the Brisbane International quarterfinals to start 2018.
Monday’s victory was his first in four attempts against the big-serving American.
“I'm not surprised at all,” Ebden said. “I know if I execute and do the things that I was trying to do I would give myself a good shot at winning.
“Of course, it's great that it was on a nice big court in front of my home crowd in my home Grand Slam. It's important to maintain and bring that level for these matches and then step over the line.”
The next line he faces stepping over will be a vastly different proposition, with unorthodox former Australian Open quarterfinalist Alexandr Dolgopolov, of Ukraine, his second-round opponent.
Ebden’s upset of Isner is the latest reward in long climb back into the top 100 after a knee injury ruled out most of his 2016 season.
“2016 was aggravating, to get the ranking up, pushing right on up. Yeah, it's very frustrating,” Ebden said. “It's very, very difficult, very testing, very challenging, but also very rewarding to then really come to terms with yourself, what I want, what you want to do about it basically.”
“Even in the last six to eight months, I've probably taken another step.
“I've matched it or beaten some top 10 guys, matched it with other top 10 guys, been very close with a lot of these guys.
“Same today, it was kind of close, but I stepped over the line.”
