Where in the world is Sidney Crosby?! (Summer 2018)

John Isner advanced to the Round of 16 at Wimbledon for the first time on Friday. And perhaps staying loose and having fun is proving to be a winning formula for the ninth seed.

Just last week, ahead of the start of his campaign at The Championships, the American enjoyed a chance to hit some balls with National Hockey League superstar Sidney Crosby at Aorangi Park.

“I got to practise with him. Actually got him out on the court for 15, 20 minutes and got to meet him and talk to him and see what he does to stay in shape,” Isner recalled. “That dude works his tail off. That's why he's the best hockey player in the world. It's cool. So I've gotten to know, through tennis, a lot of other very unique athletes and through that I have learned a lot.”

Isner is also a big Carolina Panthers football fan, and says he has been able to pick other professional athletes’ minds to help his own career.

“Not so much to improve myself athletically, but to learn, I do,” Isner said. “I think it’s cool to talk to them about what they do to keep in shape, what they do to stay strong.”

Crosby is an athlete whom many professionals admire for his efforts on the ice. But how was he moving around on the grass with a racquet in his hands instead of a hockey stick?

“He was pretty good. He actually was a little bit nervous, I think,” Isner said. “We were just practising at Aorangi. Once he started releasing his forehand, he started hitting the ball much better, but he's strong as an ox. It's crazy how strong his lower body is.”

Isner will look to stay strong himself in the second week at Wimbledon. He claimed his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open presented by Itau, and is now making his deepest run at SW19. Isner will need his best on Monday, when he faces a stiff test against #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“I think I can definitely do better than the Round of 16, but it all starts on Monday,” Isner said. “I have a very, very tough match.”