John Isner is the last American man standing — and he’s now standing in the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time in seven years.

Entering as the leading American man, the 11th-seeded Isner has lived up to his billing.

The 6-foot-10 University of Georgia product rallied from a set down and survived a five-setter against 25th-seed Milos Raonic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 on Sunday. Isner won the battle of big servers at a raucous, pro-American crowd at jam-packed Louis Armstrong Stadium in a three-hour match.

While Isner is coming off a Wimbledon semifinal berth, it marks only the third time the 33-year-old has gone as far as the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. And it’s his first quarterfinal berth here since 2011.

“I think I’m better [than 2011],” Isner said. “Physically I’m stronger, wiser, I have a lot of experience on my side. I’m feeling really good. Just in a good place, happy. I’m really enjoying competing, not putting too much pressure on myself. To do that at 33 now is pretty cool.”

The pro-American crowd perhaps is sensing Isner has a puncher’s chance. At 5-2, Isner broke Raonic for the match and got a standing ovation as he repeatedly pumped his fist to the crowd while hopping about.

“I felt a lot of support,” Isner said. “It helps so much. Adrenaline plays a huge part in tennis, especially at a tournament like this for an American like myself. The most important part was this crowd kept me in it. This atmosphere here is like a jungle.”

After Raonic forced a fifth set, the injury-prone Canadian lost momentum after needing a lengthy on-court back/hip massage between sets. Raonic said in the fourth set, he felt “a sharp feeling” in his right hip.

Isner jumped right on him to start the fifth.

“It was important I was serving first in the fifth set,” Isner said.

However, Isner is showing he’s more than just a serving specialist and stepped up his return game in the fifth set.

“I feel very mentally tough,” Isner said. “I think this year, since Miami, I really turned a corner there. There are some matches I’ve played where I only just rely on my serve. But I think more times than not this year, I’ve shown some other ability.”

No other American man even made the fourth round as Isner widens the gap between himself and his countrymen in a late-career renaissance that began last spring by winning the prestigious Miami Open.

“It’s disappointing not to have played my best in the big moments [at the Open] with the big crowd watching,” Isner said. “So that’s disappointing to walk off the court as a loser, knowing a lot of the fans had been cheering for me.”

Isner’s Wimbledon performance was spectacular, losing a historic 26-24 fifth-set semifinal to Kevin Anderson. Isner said before the Open started his body had never felt better.
The same can’t be said for Raonic. Once Canada’s great hope, the 27-year-old has been riddled with injuries after being coached briefly by John McEnroe. Raonic missed last year’s Open with wrist issues.

In the fifth set’s second game, Isner got up 40-0, winning the third straight point at the net and pointing to the crowd, whipping it into a frenzy. Raonic got within 30-40 before double-faulting into the net, giving Isner the break and a 2-0 lead. Raonic committed five double-faults to just one for Isner.

“He’s playing with more confidence now,” Raonic said.

Isner, taking advantage of a decent draw, will face No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro in the quarters. Del Potro topped Borna Coric in straight sets Sunday night, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.

Isner’s wife, Maddy, is due Sept. 22 with their first child, and she has been home in Dallas. Isner realizes the possibility of a conflict, if his tennis continues to flourish.

“I’ve been talking to mothers a lot, asking them, especially on their first kid, and I’ve heard anywhere from a month early to three weeks late or anywhere in between,” Isner said.

It’s already been a blessed summer for Isner.