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TENNIS TALK So, what does it feel like coming back to Miami as the defending champ? John Isner: For sure, it feels a little bit different, but ultimately what happened last year is cliché. It's really old news. It's great memories for me but I have to put that behind me. But it is cool to come back as the defending champ. I think if I had won this championship many years ago, it would put a little more pressure on me, but right now, where I am in my career, I'm not feeling any pressure coming to Miami. I'm trying to do my best this year. How about coming back as a defending champ of your only 1000 ATP Master Series title? After all, Miami Open is one of your most important career wins so far. JI: It does make a little bit of a difference. I've won lots of other titles, but not nearly as big as this one. I've had success defending some titles before but I've never defended a 1000 ATP title before. Chances are, I won't defend it. Really, I'm a bit surprised to hear that from the defending champ! JI: Well, I only won one of these in my career. So the odds are I probably won't win this title. At the same time, I do have such amazing memories from Miami last year, which can't help me necessarily wi the title again. If this is the case, then what made you win the title last year? JI: Well yeah, I did. I was coming into this tournament not playing well. I sort of labored through the first match. I got through it, and as any player will tell you, winning a tough first match can maybe just take a lot of the pressure off. My second match I played much better than my first. And then from the round of 16 on, I started playing incredibly well. And so, once I won my round of 16 match and got myself in the quarterfinals, at this stage, I knew this could turn out well for me because of how well I was playing and I was in a good spot. You are the top ranked American player. Does this add any additional pressure when you play in America? JI: No, it does not. For what it's worth, I've been in the top American, I think, 6 in the last 7 years and you know, for me, it's great. I want to be the top American player for as long as I can, but it does not add extra pressure.