John Isner Beats Roger Federer In Davis Cup Upset

In a stunning upset in the world of tennis, John Isner, a University of Georgia alum, defeated Roger Federer in the first round of Davis Cup play on Friday 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2.

Isner, currently ranked No. 16 in the world, is known for his epic 2010 Wimbledon match against Nicolas Mahut, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and stretched out over 3 days, the longest match in the history of professional tennis.

At 6'9 245, the 26-year old has made his mark on the ATP as a serving specialist, using his extraordinary height to create nearly unplayable return angles for his opponents.

However, in the last two years, he's improved the rest of his game, establishing himself as one of the rising stars in American tennis.

And while Federer has slipped slightly from his perch as the world's best player for most of the last decade, he's still among the top four players in the game and few expected him to lose to Isner, who still has a reputation as a one-dimensional player.

Isner's victory gives the US a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup, although Federer will have two more chances to force a decisive fifth match that would put Isner up against Stanislaw Wawrincka, the No. 28 player in the world.

For Isner, defeating Federer, who many consider the greatest player in the sport's history, is a career-defining achievement which could set him up for a deep run in a Grand Slam in 2011.