John Isner, unquestionably the United States’ biggest hope in New York, will be back in action on Thursday. Standing in Isner’s way of the third round is Gael Monfils.

John Isner and Gael Monfils will be meeting for the seventh time in their careers when they do battle in round two of the U.S. Open on Thursday.

The head-to-head series stands at 3-3 and all six of their previous encounters have come on hard courts. All five of their best-of-three matches have gone the distance and their 2010 Australian Open showdown went to four–with Isner prevailing 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(5). Two of their clashes required third-set tiebreakers to be decided; Isner survived six years ago in Washington, D.C. and Monfils won by the same manner in their most recent collision–at the same D.C. event in 2011.

Both players have battled through injuries to pick up some momentum this summer. Isner…