Isner wins first tour title

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- John Isner warmed up for the seventh major championship appearance Saturday by winning his first career title at the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand.

The 6-foot-9 Isner served up 22 aces to defeat Arnaud Clement in the championship match 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2). In his five matches during the event, Isner had 78 aces.

He survived a match point in the 12th game of the final set, and then produced two aces to force the tiebreak.

This was only the second final for Isner, who lost to Andy Roddick with the title on the line in Washington during the 2007 season. Clement won that same tournament in 2006 for his fourth and thus far last crown.

Isner will be taking part in his third Australian Open next week. He has lost in the opening round of his other two appearances. His best showing in a major came at last year's U.S. Open, where he reached the fourth round.