Wimbledon - Isner vs. Mahut - Any thoughts on this epic battle

[gamblingbutler]

John Isner : Nicolas Mahut

4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9-7) 6-7(3-7), 59-59

In my mind this tennis match must be the single most impressive performance in sport history.

Speaking about awesomeness, I don't even know where to begin.

• +10h total game time
• +118 games in the final set
• not a single break in 118 games in the final set
• 98 vs 95 aces so far - both crushing Karlovic' record of 78
• Set number 5 alone is longer than the second longest match in tennis history
  

...and this is not even over. I'm basically speechless, this is really the most incredible thing I can imagine in sports as a whole.


Edit: added some more stats found on Wimbledon.org for that particular match:

• Unforced Errors 58 55
• Winning % on 1st Serve 253 of 293 = 86 % 259 of 323 = 80 %
• Winning % on 2nd Serve 94 of 150 = 63 % 74 of 116 = 64 %
• Winners 217 218
• Receiving Points Won 106 of 449 = 24 % 96 of 464 = 21 %
• Break Point Conversions 1 of 3 = 33 % 1 of 13 = 8 %
• Net Approaches 99 of 139 = 71 % 88 of 133 = 66 %
• Total Points Won 453 429
• Fastest Serve Speed 128 MPH 143 MPH
• Average 1st Serve Speed 118 MPH 123 MPH
• Average 2nd Serve Speed 101 MPH 112 MPH

Anybody want to comment on that?

[Amateur]

That's all true. But there is no way I'd try to watch this match. I'll wait to watch an edited version on Tennis Channel tonight. And Tennis is my first love for sports viewing!!

I actualy watched the McEnroe vs Borg match, and it was amazing. They showed it as a Classic Match on Tennis Channel. Federer vs Nadal and last year Roddick v Federer were all great matches. Roddick won't approach on a short ball, which is his main weakness, and he can't win the big matches without that part of his game. Nadal is making a big effort to improve in that area. You can see it as his matches progress.

I would hope this would encourage them to go to a 5th set tiebreak!! I guess if one of them collapses, they might consider it!

This year's Wimbledon is looking to be very good. Federer barely survived in the 1st round, and really should have lost. Nadal wants the title back! And Roddick is improving a little, but not enough to make the vital difference. Murray seems not to be on that level, so he will need someone to take out one of the top seeds for him to advance to the finals.

Sharapova is looking like she is back from her shoulder injury, but Henin is very uneven since her return. It will take her awhile to get back in form. Maybe Clijsters is recovered enough from her injury to present a challenge to the top seeds. I think she is in Serena's half of the draw.

Serena and Venus are in opposite sides of the draw, so they could meet once again. If no one wants to see if, then someone will have to beat them to stop it!

[gamblingbutler]

That's all true. But there is no way I'd try to watch this match. I'll wait to watch an edited version on Tennis Channel tonight. And Tennis is my first love for sports viewing!!

I actualy watched the McEnroe vs Borg match, and it was amazing. They showed it as a Classic Match on Tennis Channel. Federer vs Nadal and last year Roddick v Federer were all great matches. Roddick won't approach on a short ball, which is his main weakness, and he can't win the big matches without that part of his game. Nadal is making a big effort to improve in that area. You can see it as his matches progress.

I would hope this would encourage them to go to a 5th set tiebreak!! I guess if one of them collapses, they might consider it!

This year's Wimbledon is looking to be very good. Federer barely survived in the 1st round, and really should have lost. Nadal wants the title back! And Roddick is improving a little, but not enough to make the vital difference. Murray seems not to be on that level, so he will need someone to take out one of the top seeds for him to advance to the finals.

Sharapova is looking like she is back from her shoulder injury, but Henin is very uneven since her return. It will take her awhile to get back in form. Maybe Clijsters is recovered enough from her injury to present a challenge to the top seeds. I think she is in Serena's half of the draw.

Serena and Venus are in opposite sides of the draw, so they could meet once again. If no one wants to see if, then someone will have to beat them to stop it!

While I am actually a big fan and supporter of Federer's, I'd really love to see Tsonga and Soderling do well in this tourney. I find their stryle of play most attractive and effective at the same time. I don't know about Federer though this year... he hasn't been back to form since his impressive AUS OPEN show and lost pretty much everything since then.

Well, I don't know, I guess I'll be happy as long as Murray and Nadal don't win this thing. Wimbledon should have a winner whose playing style fits grass courts. That is just my opinion and it is a disgrace that the officials make the surface slower and slower every year to help baseliners do well. In return nobody cares about clay courts becoming faster and faster so that the offensive players can catch up there...

[giggles7p]

I don't know how either of these men were able to keep their stamina up for 10 freakin hours! I have a hard enough time doing it for 1...lol

Fantastic display of sportsmen ship and a fantastic match up. Day 2 today, do we go for 20 hours?

LOLL

[gamblingbutler]

I don't know how either of these men were able to keep their stamina up for 10 freakin hours! I have a hard enough time doing it for 1...lol

Fantastic display of sportsmen ship and a fantastic match up. Day 2 today, do we go for 20 hours?

LOLL

It is actually DAY 3 already! They started on Tuesday and the match had to be stopped twice because it got too dark

Speaking of stamina:

3h on day 1
7h on day 2
?h on day 3

The game is inplay already and it's far from over. Isner is leading 66:65 right now...

[gamblingbutler]

Isner wins this thing 70:68

I am kinda sad it is over, I got used to seeing them play the last couple of days

[Doolally]

I think they just decided on a chop and let Isner win. After such an intense few days, Isner will probably be knocked out really quickly now having used up too much reserves on one match.

Fantastic play from both of them though - great sportsmanship.

[arkyt]

I was hoping Mahut would win it - with all those dives he was making he really seemed to want more. He made an unforced error in the last game that cost him a few more hours of his time.... LOL.

I wonder what their prizes were?

[HBKKH]

Not sure what's with the hype on this one. I would just be bored...

[Amateur]

Isner actually won this, with two great shots, as opposed to Mahut losing it on an unforced error. It was great theater, both served amazinly well, and broke records with the number of acess served.

I just think they should go to a tiebreak in 5th set.

[arkyt]

Isner actually won this, with two great shots, as opposed to Mahut losing it on an unforced error.

Isner did make a great shot, but prior to that he won a point where Mahut returned the ball into the net as Isner was falling down - if Mahut had won that point the match likely would have continued as he would have been up instead of going down.