Fourth seed Isner, a towering player who relies heavily on his serve, initially struggled to find his range in the Winston-Salem Open final because of high winds brought about by Hurricane Irene.

He lost the opening set but adjusted his game and, once he found his rhythm, was able to take control.

Isner totalled 18 aces as he captured his third career title and his second in as many months after winning at Rhode Island in July.

“A lot of times in the wind you have to play to a big margin in the court and not to the lines. I was trying to hit the lines too much (early on),” he said.

“I started to be more aggressive in the second set. I told myself to get my intensity up.

“If I am holding my serve easily, then to get ahead in my opponent’s service games puts them under pressure,” Isner added.
 
Wozniacki takes New Haven crown

In New Haven Connecticut,  world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki shrugged off the distraction of a long rain delay and the threat of Hurricane Irene to win the New Haven WTA title for the fourth year in succession on Saturday.

The top-seeded Dane defeated Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska 6-4, 6-1 to boost her confidence ahead of the US Open which starts on Monday.

The final was moved forward by four hours to avoid the expected arrival of Hurricane Irene and then interrupted by more than an hour and a half because of rain after the first set.

Wozniacki, 21, has now won 18 WTA titles including six this year but has yet to lift a grand slam crown although she was a finalist at the US Open two years ago.