John Isner isn’t just famous for his booming serve, powerful groundstrokes, and quick hands at the net. He’s also the proud dad of four children, all under five years old. That’s right, in the span of just five years, the former American pro managed to grow a family from two to seven. Talk about a winning streak!

Isner recently engaged in an interaction with one of his contemporaries, Andy Roddick on the latter’s Served with Roddick podcast. They deliberated on a wide range of topics including Isner’s life after retirement, and his responsibilities as a father. And the reunion of two old friends definitely hinted towards some cheeky exchanges as was witnessed during the interview.

Isner discussed how difficult it was for him towards the final days of his career with four kids at home waiting for him. It was this time when Roddick decided to ask a humorous question as he quizzed, “You understand how kids are made, right?” Isner was no different in his approach as he answered similarly. “I do understand how kids are made, yeah. And my wife and I have of course become pretty proficient in that…you know, we have had four kids in 5 years.”  

Isner and his wife Madison McKinley welcomed their first child Hunter Grace in 2018, just a year after they tied the knot. Their second child, and their first boy, John was born the next year in 2019. The couple once again announced their pregnancy soon and welcomed the third child of the family, James in 2021. And it was in 2023, the year when Isner hung up his racquet when the couple welcomed the fourth child Chapel. The tennis star has demonstrated immense affection with his family.

Ahead of his retirement, he revealed that while his body did not allow him to continue in tennis for a long time, the other reason behind him bidding farewell to the world was his growing family. He expressed his desire to spend some time with them. Besides, Isner also acknowledged missing his family during the tours. “I really enjoy having them here. It makes the losses easier because it really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things,” he said during a tour in 2023. But besides the hilarious record of growing his family quickly, Isner boasts yet another magnificent tennis record. 

When John Isner played the longest match in tennis history

It was 2010. The grass-court Grand Slam was set to witness new records. But the record that was eventually created in the first round itself, was something that no one would have expected. John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut played the longest match in tennis history which still remains unbreakable. 

The duo engaged in a clash that lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and was played over three days. Ultimately, Isner emerged victorious in five sets, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 70–68. Yes, the score of the fifth set is not mistyped! But Isner is not very excited about recalling that match. Speaking in an interview last year, the 39-year-old said, “The one match everyone talks about in 2010, I will never, ever forget that match, even though I might want to. 11 hours and 5 minutes in 2010. I don’t want to call it a fond memory because it wasn’t that much fun playing in that match. It was just a war of attrition out there. But being a part of it, looking back on it was very cool.”

As the sport evolves and tennis grows, it will be interesting to see if any player can equate or break this record any time soon!