(8) Kevin Anderson def. (9) John Isner 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 6-7(9), 6-4, 26-24
South Africa’s Kevin Anderson earned a spot in Sunday’s Wimbledon final with a grueling win over American John Isner. The five-set scorcher last just over six hours and 30 minutes, with Anderson finally getting the only break of the set with Isner serving at 24-24.
The American is no stranger to marathon Wimbledon matches. He holds the record (by a considerable margin) for the longest match ever played, which came in the 2010 Wimbledon first round. Isner and France’s Nicolas Mahut played over three days for 11 hours and five minutes, with Isner eventually prevailing 70-68 in the fifth.
This match would not go the American’s way. The first three sets boasted a predictable scoreline: tiebreakers for the big servers. The two men traded breaks of serve in the third before Isner eventually pocketed a two-sets-to-one lead.
Anderson converted on both of his break-point chances in the fourth set to level the match at two sets apiece and force a fifth, with Isner holding the advantage of serving first.
The No. 8 seed held serve through the game at 24-24, but he played with fire, often finding himself in a 0-30 hole before serving his way out of trouble. In the 49th game of the set, Anderson finally did what he was threatening to do all set and he broke serve before serving it out to earn his spot in the final.
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