Let’s take a quick look at each of the finalists before discussing the finals.

Last time we saw Juan Martin del Potro, he was playing the best match of this year’s Wimbledon in a losing effort to Novak Djokovic.  In two previous matches, he had hyper-extended his knee, so no one knew much how he would do upon returning back to tour, except that it didn’t impact him too seriously after it happened.

del Potro made one of the more impressive debuts at Washington DC, back in 2008, when his ranking was so low, that he wasn’t selected on the Argentine Olympic team.  DC would be the fourth of four consecutive titles he won, including two clay titles in Europe and Los Angeles.

He would win DC once again in 2009, but sat out most of 2010 with wrist surgery recovery.  He also chose not to play in 2011 and 2012 (an Olympic year).  This year, he decided to return to the place that started it all (given Los Angeles is no longer on the calendar and was moved to Bogota).

On the flip side, John Isner has, as usual, an up and down year, but with his epic win over Kevin Anderson in Atlanta last week, he wanted to continue his streak.  Isner, as usual, played long matches to reach the finals, beating Kuznetsov in two tiebreaks, managing to beat college rival, Somdev Devvarman 75 75, and being taken to three sets from “blasts from the past”, Marcos Baghdatis and Dmitry Tursunov.

Meanwhile, del Potro had the much tougher route to the final in terms of quality opponents, but a decidedly easier wins than Isner beating Ryan Harrison in the opening round, then a lethargic Bernard Tomic in the next, then Kevin Anderson, and the resurgent Tommy Haas.

Many players struggle in the early rounds getting used to the surface, getting used to the ball, and so the quality of their play doesn’t usually pick up to the end.  This could be said of John Isner who played somewhat lackadaisical in the opening round, but was drilling balls in the finals.

The tournament had been plagued with rain that partly washed out play on Wednesday, then caused issues on Saturday with del Potro winning his semi match close to midnight.

Since the finals was set mid-afternoon, del Potro didn’t start off fresh finding himself down a break and almost now two breaks in the first set.  Isner was striking the ball well mixing drop shots, forays to the net, to confuse the Argentine.  One sponsor, when asked how he thought the match would go, said del Potro would come back, and it turns out he did.

Everyone knows that del Potro is far superior to Isner off the ground.  If you started the serve with a slow feed, del Potro’s skill off the ground is too much for Isner.  He hits a better backhand, a harder forehand, and moves better too.  The only way Isner wins is to serve big, hope for weak or no returns, and then blast his forehands.

The next two sets featured two breaks each by del Potro as he took control of the match.  Isner had a chance to get one of the two breaks back as del Potro served for the match, but couldn’t string enough points together to make it happen.

del Potro wins 36 61 62.

Next week: First hardcourt Masters 1000 played in Montreal.  Federer has decided to skip this event.