Isner tops Mahut 70-68 in fifth set
Source: Agencies |
June 25, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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THE world's longest tennis match finally ended at Wimbledon yesterday when John Isner claimed the incredible fifth set of a three-day epic against Nicolas Mahut 70-68 after 11 hours and five minutes on court.
The American 23rd seed ended the contest with a backhand passing shot after another hour of play on Court 18 as the match resumed at 59-59 in the deciding set after it was stopped by bad light on Wednesday.
"I am a little bit tired," an elated Isner said in an on-court interview.
"When you play a match like this with an atmosphere like this you don't feel tired. This crowd was fantastic.
"The guy (Mahut) is an absolute warrior. I want to share this day with him, it was an absolute honor. I wish him the best and see him somewhere down the road and it won't go 70-68."
Isner completed an eye-watering 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 first-round victory with every vantage point taken by a packed crowd.
Isner fell to the ground in disbelief and after the two players hugged at the net Mahut sunk into his chair and covered his head with his towel. "It was just amazing to play today," Mahut said. "The crowd the last three days were amazing. You were just completely fantastic. John deserved the win. He just served unbelievably."
World record
Isner served 112 aces, Mahut 103 as they both eclipsed the old world record of 78 held by Croatia's Ivo Karlovic. The match had already beaten the record for the longest set, longest match, most games in a match and most games in a set.
The previous longest match was the six-hour, 33-minute epic between French duo Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement at the 2004 French Open.
Even, the top players were immersed in the drama unfolding on little Court 18.
"Unreal," Andy Roddick tweeted on Wednesday.
"Absolutely amazing," Roger Federer gushed.
"It's longer than a marathon," Venus Williams said.
But with their battle taking place away from Centre Court, where Queen Elizabeth was in attendance yesterday after 33 years, former champion John McEnroe quipped: "It's a good thing Isner and Mahut don't have to bow because if they did, they wouldn't be able to get up again."
The match was so long and grueling, and with no end in sight, McEnroe also suggested doctors should have been on standby to run to the players' aid.
"I thought Isner was getting delirious and was worried for his health," McEnroe said.
While the match will no doubt revive the debate about tiebreaks in the fifth set here, as they do at the US Open, perhaps Wimbledon should also break with protocol and rename the 782-seater Court 18 after the two heroic protagonists.
The American 23rd seed ended the contest with a backhand passing shot after another hour of play on Court 18 as the match resumed at 59-59 in the deciding set after it was stopped by bad light on Wednesday.
"I am a little bit tired," an elated Isner said in an on-court interview.
"When you play a match like this with an atmosphere like this you don't feel tired. This crowd was fantastic.
"The guy (Mahut) is an absolute warrior. I want to share this day with him, it was an absolute honor. I wish him the best and see him somewhere down the road and it won't go 70-68."
Isner completed an eye-watering 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 first-round victory with every vantage point taken by a packed crowd.
Isner fell to the ground in disbelief and after the two players hugged at the net Mahut sunk into his chair and covered his head with his towel. "It was just amazing to play today," Mahut said. "The crowd the last three days were amazing. You were just completely fantastic. John deserved the win. He just served unbelievably."
World record
Isner served 112 aces, Mahut 103 as they both eclipsed the old world record of 78 held by Croatia's Ivo Karlovic. The match had already beaten the record for the longest set, longest match, most games in a match and most games in a set.
The previous longest match was the six-hour, 33-minute epic between French duo Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement at the 2004 French Open.
Even, the top players were immersed in the drama unfolding on little Court 18.
"Unreal," Andy Roddick tweeted on Wednesday.
"Absolutely amazing," Roger Federer gushed.
"It's longer than a marathon," Venus Williams said.
But with their battle taking place away from Centre Court, where Queen Elizabeth was in attendance yesterday after 33 years, former champion John McEnroe quipped: "It's a good thing Isner and Mahut don't have to bow because if they did, they wouldn't be able to get up again."
The match was so long and grueling, and with no end in sight, McEnroe also suggested doctors should have been on standby to run to the players' aid.
"I thought Isner was getting delirious and was worried for his health," McEnroe said.
While the match will no doubt revive the debate about tiebreaks in the fifth set here, as they do at the US Open, perhaps Wimbledon should also break with protocol and rename the 782-seater Court 18 after the two heroic protagonists.
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