Isner, Ginepri set for all-American showdown

Isner, Ginepri set for all-American showdown A host of Americans have played their way into the second round of the U.S. Open, and two of them will go head-to-head on Friday. Robby Ginepri looks to pull off an upset over the red-hot John Isner.

John Isner and Robby Ginepri will be squaring off for the third time in their careers when they clash in the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday. They split a pair of 2009 meetings; Isner won a 6-4, 6-7(1), 7-6(5) thriller in Auckland before Ginepri rolled in Indianapolis.

Since then, however, their respective careers have taken drastically different paths. Isner struggled somewhat in 2010, but he is back in outstanding form this season. The 6'9'' American boasts a 29-18 record for his 2011 campaign thanks to a 13-4 record on the hard courts this summer. Isner finished runner-up in Atlanta, won the Winston-Salem title last week, and scored an impressive first-round win over Marcos Baghdatis on Wednesday.

Ginepri, on the other hand, has seen his career plagued by injuries. The 28-year-old American missed the first six months of this year due to a broken arm, which he sustained in a mountain biking accident trying to avoid a squirrel. He is 2-3 at the ATP level since his return, including a four-set win over Joao Souza in round one.

One of the streakier players on tour, Ginepri makes you wonder if just one U.S. Open victory can kick-start himinto high gear. The chances of that, however, are slim--especially against an on-fire opponent like Isner. If the No. 28 seed serves well, this should be over in three sets.