ATP Tour

My Masters 1000: John Isner

American John Isner has reached the final at three different ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments: the BNP Paribas Open in 2012, the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati in 2013 and the Paris Masters in 2016.

But, as Isner tells ATPWorldTour.com, reaching the final isn't a prerequisite for enjoying a tournament. The 6'10" American has found something to appreciate at most of the Masters 1000 events.

Which Masters 1000 host city is your favourite and why?
I love them all. Shanghai is fantastic but it's a little bit far. If I'm going to choose one, I'm going to choose Indian Wells.

Which is your favourite tournament for the play, the atmosphere?
I would go Indian Wells again. I love the conditions there. Of course, Larry Ellison owning that tournament now, there's no penny spared. So it's a fantastic event.

Which Masters 1000 would you most want to win and why?
I would say any one in the States, again back to Indian Wells, Cincinnati, I've made the finals of both of those before. I've gone deep in Miami. I like playing in the States. I have a lot of fan support when I am playing in the States so I would say one of those.

Do you have a favourite Masters 1000 court and if so why?
I like the centre courts. I actually love the one in Bercy, [the Paris Masters]. The arena is obviously very nice but what they do for players, how we walk out, it's like we're part of a team. They dim the lights, they put on the light show. It's pretty cool. You come out, they play some weird European music but it's pretty cool. People are into it so I really love that court.

What is your favourite off-court memory at a Masters 1000?
My favourite off-court memory... I wasn't quite there, I was en route to Shanghai and I got to go to the Great Wall. For us, we're lucky to be able to travel every year to a place like China so to be able to see that was pretty cool... That was three years ago.