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Isner back on tennis court

While the rest of the tennis world focused on Roger Federer's record-setting run at Wimbledon last week, Greensboro native John Isner quietly returned to competition at a Challenger Tour event in the Chicago suburbs.

He lost.

But after sitting out almost seven weeks, just being back on the court was a little victory.

Isner hadn't played since losing a quarterfinal match to Alex Kuznetsov at a Challenger tournament in Savannah, Ga., on May 8. A few days later, Isner was diagnosed with mononucleosis.

He missed the French Open. He missed Wimbledon.

The Grand Slams loss was Winnetka's gain. The little tournament in Illinois made the big-serving, 6-foot-9 Isner the top seed at the Neilsen USTA Pro Tennis Championships.

But the rust of all that inactivity showed up as Isner lost to Ryler DeHeart in the first round, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

DeHeart, by the way, advanced all the way to the semifinals of the tournament, which Kuznetsov won.

Isner fared a little better in doubles. He and partner Brendan Evans -- the second seeds -- won a first-round match against Kuznetsov and Tim Smyczek 3-6, 6-2, 10-8.

Isner and Evans lost to wild-cards Brett Joelson and Ryan Sweeting in the quarterfinals, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.

Isner, the former Page and Georgia star, will play in a non-sanctioned event in New York and practice hard at his Tampa, Fla., home to get ready for the next big test: the ATP Tour's Indianapolis Championships, which start July 19.

-- JEFF MILLS, Staff Writer