When the Wimbledon draw was revealed two weeks ago, the top-half semifinal was expected to be a rematch of last year’s final between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic. It turned out to be Kevin Anderson vs. John Isner.
Cilic exited early and Federer, in even more shocking fashion, fell to Anderson from two sets up during quarterfinal action on Wednesday. The 6’8” South African’s reward is an incredible opportunity to reach his second Grand Slam title match, but it certainly won’t be easy against Isner. These two former college rivals have squared off on 11 previous occasions, with Isner leading the head-to-head series 8-3. It was once 3-3 before the 6’10” American reeled off five wins in a row, including two during this stretch that required nothing but tiebreakers–7-6(3), 6-7(8), 7-6(7) at the 2012 Shanghai Masters and 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in the 2013 Atlanta final.
Something along those lines was expected when Isner went up against Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. And that is how things transpired through two sets, but the world No. 10 eventually took control and prevailed 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-3. In what is by far his best-ever performance at the All-England Club, Isner preceded that result by beating Yannick Maden, Ruben Bemelmans, Radu Albot, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The reigning Miami Masters champion has not been broken a single time through five rounds, but he did have to save two match points from 15-40 down at 4-5 in his fifth set against Bemelmans.
“Pure elation right now,” Isner said following his win over Raonic. “Very, very happy to be in this position right now in the semifinals. With how I’m feeling physically and mentally, I’m in a very good spot. I think I can keep doing damage here. This is amazing; it’s by far the best Grand Slam I’ve ever played in my career, and I’ve been playing for 11 years. I’m super happy. To do it here at Wimbledon makes it even a little bit more special.”
Anderson had also never reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals, but he advanced to the second week three times in his previous four appearances and he has not lost in less than five sets at this event since 2014 (to Andy Murray in the fourth round). So the No. 8 seed’s performance comes as no real surprise–at least no real surprise until Wednesday. On the heels of victories over Norbert Gombos, Andreas Seppi, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Gael Monfils, Anderson saved one match point and stunned Federer 2-6, 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, 13-11. Paling only in comparison to Isner, the 32-year-old has blasted 124 aces in five matches–at least 20 on every occasion.
“John has got arguably one of the best serves of all time on the tour,” Anderson said of his opponent who has fired 160 aces this fortnight (64 past Bemelmans alone). “Especially in the last few months what’s really impressive is just his first-serve percentage, as well, never mind how accurate and big the serve is.
“In the matches I’ve played him, obviously taking care of your serve is the first priority. It’s a match that’s often won on just a couple of points here and there. I feel confident in baseline exchanges quite a lot with John. At the same time, because he’s such a big player, has so much firepower, you just can’t be too patient. You have to still be aggressive and put him on the back foot.”
That’s not going to happen when Isner serves, as he has put no less than a whopping 69 percent of his first serves in play during every match of this tournament. The pressure will be on Anderson to hold every time he toes the line–something he failed to do four times against Monfils and three times against Federer.
Isner has played the big points better than Anderson over their last five meetings and based on how he is serving these days, more of the same is likely to continue.
Pick: Isner in 4
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Im going to stick with Anderson in four or five sets even though Isner’s serves look unbreakable.
Im going for Anderson as well,in five.
Well done that man ! Kevin, I mean of course.
Anderson has reached a USO Final and now a Wimbledon final for a reason, he competes better than the competition and finds a way to win.
I expect him to find a way to break the Isner serve and doubt he’ll allow himself to lose this match after achieving the biggest win of his career.
There will be a lot more balls in play compared to Isner’s previous matches.
The formlines for Isner are suspect at best also whereas Monfils and Fed were strong even though Fed was not at his previous best.
Anderson in 4
Repeat of USO final in the making.
4 sets to Anderson here.
Anderson would lose 30 to Rafa in the final
Isner in four
The Big dawg in 3.
The more I think about it the more I think the titlist may come from the winner of this match. I didn’t realize that Isner had been serving nearly 70% of 1st serves. I mean, can a player with a serve like his be beaten on grass if he serves like that?
I really have no idea about the outcome of either of these semifinals. On any other surface you’d have to say the winner of Novak-Nadal is the heavy favourite to win the title. But here I’m not at all sure.
I also have to say: despite being a trump supporter, Isner seems like a genuinely nice guy (as does Anderson). The two are not incompatible, after all.
Still, it will be hard for me to cheer for him, even against Nadal in the final, should it come to that. If he had won 20 slams as Federer has, I’m pretty sure they would have changed the rules by now.
because Isner’s serve isn’t even most effective on grass. That’s how!
Nadal and Djojovic are 2 of the best returners in the game and they wear down their opponent in their service games.
“I mean, can a player with a serve like his be beaten on grass if he serves like that?”
Even at 70% they do only need to have one bad service game in a set or crack under pressure in a TB, and the set’s probably gone. If Rafa or Novak are playing well they’ll likely take enough of the break points they’re given, even when those BP’s are few and far between. At 2014 Wimby Fed served at 69%, yet he still had 15 break point opportunities against him. That was more than enough for Djokovic to get the win. Sure, Isner serves bigger at his 69%, but his less impressive ground/volley game counteracts that once a rally starts.
I genuinely want Isner to win the tournament so all the Trump/Isner hating sissies cry like they did when Mr. Trump won the election and like they did when he visited the UK. I tought tennis fans were more intelligent. It’s so pathetic to not like someone because he voted for someone you don’t like.
not really
do u live in the United States?
In a way
Iliya
That’s just bs! If someone votes for something or somebody which causes harm to myself or others i have every right to dislike them and hold them accountable. What about someone who voted for the Nazis? It’s utterly absurd to say that someone’s politics are separable from who they are as a person.
If you are so sure that those people who support Trump are wrong/causing harm/Nazis, then as a human being, try to help them by explaining, not complaining..at least i would do that if I didn’t like Mr. Trump 😉
Iliyan
I am pretty unwell today!
Not up to answering this right now…!
I hate politics AND politicians! Like or hate Trump, I see no sense in not liking someone bcos of who they voted for bcos ALL politicians are just as bad as they other, it just that some. as well as the media, are good at pretending that they are better than the other guy! The world was a right old mess before Trump was elected, and no matter who else comes, it will not fair ANY better!!! Dont be delusional ppl!! I mean Hillary and Trump?! That were the choices?! Pfffff! That goes to show, Its all dreaded politics!!
Now hurry Anderson, plz put me out of my misery already!! I want Rafa on court as soon as possible so the rest of my day can be anxiety free!!
VAMOS!!
Amazingly long game on Kevin ‘s serve!!
Kev takes nearly a quarter of an hour to hold!
That’s big from KA. Played a super tight set.
Watching Isner and Anderson on grass, I really dont think they need to quicken the court surfaces. The way they’re serving, how many players could return those serves to beat them? I guess if you’re not a big server like them, then it’s only the big four with their unbelievable returns and good all round games could beat them.
The big four are not going to be around forever, and the rest of the current crop, they’re better at serving than returning, so I really don’t think it’s necessary to quicken the courts. I guess it’s only the trio of Rafa, Djoko and Murray with their unbelievable return and baseline counterpunching games that make people feel that the court surfaces are slow and they benefit from it. Once the trio are gone, I think there’re no more such great counterpunchers around or to come and people won’t be complaining (that the courts are slow) when the game of the likes of Isner, Anderson, the big servers could flourish.
Agree lucky. Grass must stay grass. I would also add, there is no need to slow down hard courts. That’s mean, just using players’ resources to gain more income. All we want is good clay, hard and grass and a new configuration of the yearly tournaments, with a bit longer grass season and eliminating the unecessary hard tourns just for the sake of income. As soon as tennis starts to be mainly a business as football, it will be gone quickly. Sad reality.
I want to say “Thank You” to Ricky for allowing the discussion of politics to a certain degree. Not every sports oriented site would.
I think we should try to stay polite to each other, though. But as far a I can tell Amy has done just that. She just called Trump a moron and worse. As long as Mr. Trump doesn’t join our community, I have no problem with that. And even if Trump should join our community, I still wouldn’t have any problems with calling him names – because he wouldn’t be truly a part of our community ☺
That half volley by Isner was all arse.
This match has the making of a five setter that’ll take five hours! Hopefully Rafa and Djoko has enough time to play a full match after that.
So one set all, each wins a TB. It’s going to be four TBs followed by a long fifth set; just hope it doesn’t go the way of Isner/Mahut, at best or worst, Anderson/Fed please.
I have a feeling 3rd or 4th set won’t be a tb :).
This is like watching paint dry. It’s going at least four sets. Surprise! It’s been all tiebreaks!
Very dry indeed. No slices almost at all. Not much variation either. Waiting for spike. That will happen if someone breaks.
And Anderson did of! He’s the first to break Isner in the whole tournament! Now, please serve out the set, Kevin!
This is shaping up to long, long session 😨 Paint dries quicker.
I don’t understand why they don’t start the semis earlier. Something like this isn’t so unusual after all. It’s just not fair to those who play the second match!
Anderson breaks! There is hope! Something actually happened besides another tiebreak. Now he needs to serve this out.
Wow, Anderson finally breaks Isner’s serve! He’s now serving for the third set, please hold serve Kevin!
Isner finally broken! How often does that happen?
Will they move Rafa Nole match to court 1 if this one takes forever? It serms like this match going to be a marathon and pretty boring one too…
First time!
They are showing the protest in London. We have to get rid of this monster before he causes any more destruction.
youre kidding KA!
I don’t believe it! Isner breaks back! Oh God!
Is that a choke or is that a choke!
A bloody choke!!! I mean really, and lost the whole set, AND match!! Now he has groin injury!!! Damn it! I would much rather Anderson in the final if Rafa were to win it!!
What a joke! Anderson gets broken when serving for the set! What’s he doing, hitting the ball CC right back to Isner when he could just hit it DTL to the open space! What dumb shot!
Anderson got a rush of blood thinking about the final.
They are back o serve again in the 3rd:). isner broke back again.
I think Anderson lost his chance to win this match. You simply cannot break Isner and the give it right back. Surprise! Another TB!
If Anderson loses the third set, I think he’ll lose the match.
No doubt
I TOLD YALL BIG JOHN COULD VOLLEY
Benny, I don’t think anyone says he can’t!
Wow, Anderson’s ROS can be quite unbelievable, at least in this match! And, Anderson DF at SP! What a joke again!
So did Rafa, lol!! It happens, like Rafa said, u just need to regroup!
Some amazing semivolleys indeed from big John.
Anderson really has very poor shot selection ability, time and again he’s making a wrong choice and hit right back to Isner who’s ready to return the shot!! Anderson should’ve gotten the third set already by now!
Anderson has missed so many chances to take the 3rd set.
Both have had set points on serve
OMG both of them squandered their own set points.
The problem with Anderson is when he needs to serve well to win a point, he can’t; whilst Isner is just so calm and cool and can produce unbelievable serves to save himself!
Thats y i want Andy to win!!!
See, point proven!
Isner will win this one, in four I hope so that Rafa and Djoko don’t have to wait too Long.
What a return!! Backhand too!! Keep it up Big John
That’s it, game over.
KA didn’t consolidate after Fed. That loss of serve when serving for the set was the old KA, he doesnt grow as a player even though the effort and dedication is there.
3 hours for 3 sets. if this has to go in 5, not sure when we will Rafa and Novak on court
Wanting it too much without belief = choke!
Isner will loosen up the shoulders now, serving first in the 4th.
If Fed sees this Kevin today, he’ll go mad. 😉 😉 😉
Hahaha!! He might still be able to pull it out!! But with groin injury, uhmmmm!
Cant believe Andy did not serve it out in third!!Smh!
IF, and that is a MASSIVE IF, Isner/Anderson can truly show up and play their best in the final, it could be a real challenge for Rafa/Novak… I never thought I would say that about a Big 4 guy facing an Isner/Anderson-caliber player in a MAJOR FINAL, but the conditions this year are just helping these tall big servers so much! It’s hot, so their serve flies so much. And the higher bounce not only helps their serve fly even more, but it also helps those 7-footers because they don’t have to bend quite as low as they normally do on grass- the ball sits up closer to their “strike zone”.
I would never, ever in a million years try to “predict” that John freakin’ Isner or Kevin Anderson to beat a Big 3 guy in a major FINAL. I don’t care if it were a 40 year-old Federer against Kevin Anderson- if it were in a major final, you just gotta pick Big 3… Picking against those guys in a major final against dudes like that would be nothing but a guess, or hoping that it happens…..
But that doesn’t mean it CAN’T happen! Just that it’s unlikely.
And now Anderson breaks serve again. Let’s see what he can do this time.
Amazing 3 returns in a row by Anderson. Fancy a rebreak?
Not a lot!
isner breaks back.
Sigh! What’s the point of breaking serve, Anderson??
Well Isner can win 3:1 and Rafa plays earlier. What’s the point of going 5 sets if this can end in 4?
How long is this interminable match going on?! When are rafole getting on court??!
They should have played them simultaneously!
The crowd isn’t here to watch Anderson and isner!!
But then who’d watch these two on the court?
Don’t think it’s going to get any longer, finish by 5pm local time?
Anderson is a real DOPE!!!
They must have known this match could take upwards of 5 hrs which means the next SF might not start before 6 pm.
Kevin left his toolbox on Ct 1 after the Federer match.
LOL
The story of this match is simply the two breaks of serve by Anderson and his inability to consolidate.
And he would have won match already! Arghhhhh!!
Knowing Isner, maybe they should put Isner/Anderson at Court 1 and let the two matches start simultaneously. They didn’t learn from that 2010 experience.
I think they should have had them play simultaneously. Then we would have been spared sitting through this nightmare of a match. Or else start it earlier. There is no excuse for having the second semi final compromised by a long first semifinal.
Dare we say it? Can Anderson hold this time?
Agree. It’s not fair for the guys playing in the 2nd semi, neither is fair for the fans and spectators.
Come to think of it, they really screw things up for these players, Fed especially. I mean isn’t it common sense to be a bit fairer to Djoko, a three times champion, to give him slots at the CC, and have Fed to play at Court 1 in the early rounds?
Why they must wait for Djoko to complain then they shaft Fed to Court 1 for his QF match? If they’re going to put Rafa/Djoko to court 1 now, hows Rafa going to get used to it when he hasn’t played there this tournament but Djoko has already done so?
I think in order to avoid that, they should put every top player to play on court 1 as well, mainly in earlier rounds, so they get used to both courts. Completely agree. I am very surprised by all these irrational organisational decisions.
Yeah Lucky!…I don’t understand why they don’t want to do that?Why put them on CC ?They put Roger at C1 the other day…I can see the empty seats r everywhere too on CC…Stupid decision i think…
Luckystar JULY 13, 2018 AT 3:44 PM
“Knowing Isner, maybe they should put Isner/Anderson at Court 1 and let the two matches start simultaneously. They didn’t learn from that 2010 experience.”
Exactly
This is just unreal.
Finally! There’s no tiebreak in the last set! This is so unfair to rafole and the crowd…
Oh no! It’s going to a fifth set! They need to get Rafa and Novak on court one. Another set and they won’t have time to complete their match.
? They’ll close the roof and turn on the lights, won’t they? I think they can go to 11 PM then? (Don’t want to keep the neighbors up past their bedtime, you know). NOT good for Rafa but better than going to a 2nd day.
Can I have a rethink on this? I want that match between Cilic and Fed that we all thought we were going to get. Anything would be better than this. /yawnnn
I guess that it what it would come to. They would have to close the roof and turn on the lights.
I would infinitely have preferred to see Fed and Cilic over this!
They can be so nice to Serena but they can’t to Djoko! I thought without Murray this year, it’s easier to rotate the two main courts among the big three guys and yet now we have this.
How can they be so stupid and clueless with the scheduling? There are no TB’s in the fifth set, so it could go on and on.
Listen, this could end sooner than we think, and Rafa may be able to do that in 3 or 4!! So im not worried yet! I just dont want Isner to win this!!
Monalisa, is it because Rafa has a better chance against Kevin?
Eugene, sorry, Im cooking while im watching match, teehee!!
Yes, I do believe, if Rafa wins, he has a better chance against Andy! He already has a groin injury, Rafa has already played him in a final, and he IS breakable!! Look Isner has played 200 aces in this tourny alone!! I don’t want him any where near Rafa in a Wimby final!!!
I do not want Isner to win for any number of reasons. I think it would be a total joke for him to be in a slam final.
Rafa would probably have a better shot against Anderson, but they have both been playing so well that either one would be tough. But he has to get by Novak first. No looking ahead!
I would not want Isner to win no matter who he might face in the final.
Finally!!! Now Andy go for the jugular!!
Maybe rafa will realise he HAS to play aggressive and get it done asap!! Clutching at straws!!
Exactly. Imagine this finishing 16:14. Fans tired, want to go home. Rafole exhausted mentally for waiting and anticipating. Thia is a classic example of stupidity.
Rafa will not be exhausted mentally from waiting, I promise you. He has incredible patience. Dunno about Djokovic. Rafa’s probably playing Pachisi or watching the match or soccer, if there is any.
Yeah, i think Novak may be more unnerved!! Hope, lol!!
If rain is forecast, then even if Rafa and Djoko are going to play at Court 1 now, their match may be interrupted!
Wimby is also affected by planning constraints that they have to finish by 11. And rafa will have to play under the sodding roof!
Nole likes playing under the roof😡
Wait a sec. DJOKOVIC AND NADAL HAVE PLAYED 51 TIMES?!!!!
Yes Benny, now then you know? It’s 26-25 slight edge to Djoko and so I’m eager to see Rafa beat Djoko here to even the score!
Lucky, I bet that if Djokovic had played well enough to do deeper in tournaments and thus have to face Fedal more in the last year and a half, I feel like both Fed and Rafa could be at least tied with Djokovic now, if not both be leading him! But unfortunately Novak wasn’t healthy/good enough to consistently face Fedal like he used to.
Exactly Kevin, whilst Rafa got hammered at least seven straight times by Djoko when Rafa was having his slump from 2015 to 2016. Without those seven losses, Rafa would be leading Djoko by now!
Yep. But that’s how H2H’s are. They’re never totally fair or equal in tennis for so many reasons.
That’s why the h2h shouldn’t be the main indicator of a rivalry
It doesn’t say the whole story.
Ayup. Fedal gets all the attention, but Rafole have played more matches and results far more even with Rafa winning more on clay and Nole on hard (25-26).
Both these players have all the charisma of a wet haddock!
Any! LOL – I couldn’t agree more!
*Amy
Hi darling! Have a great weekend raftng!
250k out protesting in London!
Will be far more tomorrow!
Amy, stop it, u killing me!! ‘wet haddock’ hahahaha!! True dat!!!
And to make it worse, its raining here in St. Lucia today, but the sun is fighting hard!!
Sorry mona dear!
This match is driving me insane!
They’re holding serve more easily it seems as the match goes longer and longer! After watching this, how can people still want the courts to be quickened?? That means the big servers will be holding serves even more readily and the match will go on and on!
Lucky people dont say the courts to be quickened. Its the fed fans who want the courts to be quickened. More than their man winning they want nadal to lose.
True rf, straight into the same category with augusta you go 🙂
I think the players deserve to know when their match starts, with a margin of error of 30 minutes in a semifinal. How tiring and frustrating is anticipating and waiting. They should have started the 2nd semi 2 hours later paralelly. In this way you draw attention to both matches, not only the one more anticipated.
I suspect starting Rafole on Court 1 at this point would result in a riot on Center Court. Most of those people are here to see that. Not gonna happen.
They changed the fifth set rule bcos of Isner. they may have to do so again bcos of him if that happens, lol!!
Isner is just not missing first serve
5 all in the 5th. Having flashbacks to 70-68. 🙁 OK, I am going to start rooting for whoever breaks first!
3.5 hours to finish the 2nd semi
Is the roof for Court 1 ready next year? I hope it is so that they can play the two SFs on two courts without fear of rain interruptions.
Isner goes into serve-bot mode at this stage if a match.
Isn’t Isner always in serve-bot mode?
Yes, but he absolutely doesn’t miss when it’s a no TB 5th set.
The Isner–Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships holds the record for the longest tennis match both in time and games played. 11 h 05 Wimbledon 2010, 1st Round: John Isner def. Nicolas Mahut, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68 (3 days).
Has anyone considered the horrible idea that this match may not finish today!?
I’m more worried that the Rafa/Djoko match is not going to finish today.
How much of an advantage is it to Nole to play under the roof??
Guys, people don’t pay all that money just to see one semifinal. If they showed them at the same time, these people are only able to fully enjoy one match. I know as fans watching at home, it seems like it would be better to have them simulataneously played, but it doesn’t make sense for the ticket holders to only get to see one match.
Benny, people should be able to choose what match they want to watch. Same as they do in football. It’s not fair for the players. Best period of the day is gone and still no Rafa and Nole on court. I wouldn’t blame Isner and Anderson. Those guys are amazing. The organising system is capitalistically stupid.
This is BS. These 2 clowns are ruining our day.
Will they close the roof if the second semi is interrupted owing to light? Or will they continue tomorrow?
This will go to 20:18
Grab cup of coffee.
I think if two courts are with roof, then perhaps what they can do is have both SFs at CC but they should give favor to the higher seeded players to start their match first. Now if that match drag on to say 4pm, then get the second SF to start at Court 1 straight away so at least the second SF can have five hours of match time at least.
I think the TOP players have earned their rights to such favor.
That May not happen as they might want to play top seed to play in prime time.
And not only that, depending on what time the semifinalists finish their qrt final match? Would it be fair for Rafa to play first considering he match finished last and went 5 hours?!
This really is the absolute worst.
Having dinner, this thing won’t have Nd this evening.
And on and on it goes. I don’t see any way that the second semi will feel finish. Only if they close the roof and play under the lights.
There is no end in sight with these two.
That is hoe my friends greed look like. Maximising revenue. Capitalism is losing it.
Seriously, if Fed has beaten this Anderson, he would’ve put away Isner in three hours and we will be watching Rafa/Djoko now.
This Anderson is hopeless when he has chances to win in four sets but squanders all his chances! I know Fed squandered MP(s) but at least if he were to lose, his match won’t drag on for so long against servebots.
This is 3rd time Anderson’s had 0:30 on Isner’s serve
Am starting to get angry! Rafole have 29 grand slams between them and tens of millions of fans! No one gives a damn about Anderson and Isner!😡
Amy :))))))))))) that was brilliant.
Isner and Kevin have fans too….
I don’t think this match is going to end today. I think it’s going to go on endlessly. What they need to do is change the rule and have a TB in the fifth set.
Yes!
I see gimmelgob is there! Maybe he wants to meet up with twitler afterwards and grab some pussy!
Whoa let’s just cool the jets here 😂 I know you’re just referencing that buffoon Trump and I admire your passion but let’s just keep in mind this is just a tennis match guys 😂
Am joking Benny!!😀
Btw Benny i am very cross with fed for losing and depriving us of the possibility of a fedal final!
Me too 🙁 Maybe we will get fedal at the US Open
Haha I know Amy I’m only teasing. I found your comment pretty amusing 😄
Now how is it fair for the women semi-finalists to get the same amount of money as them two after playing five hours?!!! I mean seriously?! I really don’t subscribe to that!!!! Its NOT right!! I mean Serene and Kerber did not even spend 2 hrs on court between them!!! This is ridiculous!!
I would agree ladies to get exactly same amount of money if they played best of 5. Right now is not fair indeed. Not for me. Men and women have to be treated equally.
Eugene, Yes, agreed! If they played five sets, yes, absolutely!! But the way it is now, I truly think the men have gotten the bad end of the stick, but they are too ‘politically correct’ to say anything!!! If I was married to Rafa, lol, I definitely would speak out against it!!! Its just insanely foolish!!!
Isner just goes into another zone in a ni TB 5th set. He loves dogging his opponent.
See, as the match drags on, they’re holding serves more easily because they just serve big or S&V and the opponent could hardly run anymore to get to the ball; I believe that may be why the score could reach 70-68 in that 2010 Isner match.
Yes but the psychology changes also. The players become much more accurate and decisive on serve.
That’s the problem! They basically dependent on their serves and not much else!
Both of them are waiting for others to do mistake. so match Drags on
Anderson has himself to blame for letting the match drag on for so long; if he loses he’ll certainly regret not taking his chances. Even if he wins this, I doubt he has enough energy for the final.
Yeah whoever wins this is probably screwed in the final.
Yep, for sure, and it screws the final bcos it ends up not being very competitive final!! Choops!!!
Next tine Wimby must make sure they dont put servebots on same side of draw, hehehe!!
They shoykd end serving at 14, and then flip a coin! Who ever call it wins!!
The Wimbledon committee gives the impression that they are the best in the world at everything and they put a marathon man on court first in a Bo5, knowing it could go on forever.
They should probably implement fifth set tiebreak for every slam. The extended match can be enticing though. In this case, it’s not 😂 #FinishHimJohn
Maybe a final set TB to 15 instead of 7. What is the point of an open-ended final set?
Look now they’re talking about closing the roof……advantage Nole!!!! Argggghhh!!!
Nadal and Djojovic are probably yawning my now.
Yeah. They’ll gonto sleep soon. It’s very tiring both phisically and mentally to be the next player to step on court and wait for so long.
At 5 hours, 19 minutes, Isner-Anderson is now the longest match in the history of #Wimbledon Centre Court. Isner leads 14-13* in the fifth.
They really should make use of two courts instead of one, and have the TOP players play first. These two guys can then start their match at Court 1and play their hearts out for as long as possible if they choose to without holding up other players.
rafa nole cannot finish the match today I guess. or can they play with the light on and roof closed?
In order to finish it has first to start today…
They might postpone the second SF to tomorrow after the Ladies’ Final which will only take 1 hour anyway.
Seriously?!
The way things have gone, perhaps half hour, lo!! This just makes me mad!!
They will def have to postpone Rafa/Novak match. Not fair! Grass court tennis should be played in the open under natural light!!! Choops!!!
Now ive completely lost interest in this match!!!
I remember Rafa vs Muller match last year that dragged on in Court 1, resulting in Djoko’s match having to be postponed to the next day and so Djoko got to play on two consecutive days. Rafa/Djoko may have to play on two consecutive days and the winner of that match to play for three consecutive days!
The whole day is ruined.
Wimbledon! They screw things up and so don’t deserve a good final on Sunday!
Even the commentators have lost interest.
Yeah, Nadline, i realised! This is not tennis now!!! Novak would never end up in a match like this, for sure!!!!! Lol!
More these guys play, more the other semi turns into a final.
How the hell is Anderson staying there emotionally. He had that draining match against the Fed
I blame Anderson for screwing things up when he has plenty of chances to end this match in four sets!
I’m falling asleep, it’s 1.48 am here!
Somebody Break and end this snooze fest already.
Ughhhhhhh…
the commies saying that the play will continue under the roof today and they have a hard stop at 11 pm London time
Who knows, Isner/Anderson may play till 11pm! Nobody can break serve! Even if they can, they may lose their serve next!
This isn’t tennis 🙁
More akin to being slowly tortured on the rack.
ed,
Very apt analogy! It is sheer torture! There is no reason not to have a fifth set TB. It would prevent this from happening. This is not tennis. It is a war of attrition. Just not good on any level.
No matter what, Rafa and Novak are being shafted. They deserve so much better.
It starts to rain and so the hope of playing at Court 1 squashed. If Isner/Anderson don’t end, the second SF can’t start and so may have to be postponed.
They will have to postpone the Men’s final to Monday to be fair to Rafa/Djoko.
I really admire the fight and the net play of John in this match, I just really wish he had found a few bigger serves at 4-4 in the fourth and possibly won in the fourth set tiebreak because he will likely have nothing left in the tank for a final
They can’t expect rafole to play the whole match tomorrow! What if that goes 5? They have to postpone the final!
Before this match Isner said he didn’t want to be remembered only as the Marathon man.
Ha ha
Ha bloody ha!! I can’t even watch this is so mindbogglingly
tedious!
The only reason people are watching is because they are waiting for rafole!
I’m perfectly ok if they postpone the final to Monday; just don’t want Rafa/Djoko to play on consecutive days, and the winner to play three consecutive days!
I hope the Wimbledon committee wise up after this and think of ways to solve this problem.
You’d think they would have learned their lesson in 2010. Instead of that, they presented Mahut and Isner with trophies and put a plaque on court 18. Maybe, Isner wants another Wimbledon trophy as marathon man.
Hehehe…What’s more..From the match time,the winner of this match will be dead tired by final…And so is the winner of RafaNole..They’re all even!!..Hahaha!!..Who’s come out on top from this 4 is truly a warrior!!…Hope our Rafa!!..Whooo!C’mon Rafa!!
I could see this coming! The whole world knew something like this could happen except for the stupid organizers. This is ridiculous! Rafa and Nole might as well go home and come back tomorrow! I begin to fear that if the rain interrupts this match and then with the time needed to extend the roof these two will recover a bit during that break to continue forever…this match may not even be over tonight.,, scary thought I know..,😬
Now I want them to go to 100:98. 😉
Hahaha, me too nadline! 😂😂
Let them play!!!
Wow! What a match.
I wish I was watching it, it looks tough.
They must be exhausted.
Dude…. We could seriously be in for another Isner-related 11 hour match. Unbelievable. Personally, I’ve always loved how US Open has 5th set tiebreak- so Intense and enjoyable. Not these stupid Ironman contests that ultimately have nothing to do with tennis and everything to do with physicality.
Wtf will they do if this match ends up like the Isner-Mahut match?? If that happens, they might as well just give the trophy to the winner of Rafa-Djokovic, cuz Isner and Mahut both couldn’t even walk for days after that match and needed medical attention for days. How could they possibly plan a final the next day if that happens? Ridiculous.
Is there a possibility that they can’t finish their SF today, I mean the Anderson/Isner match? If they continue tomorrow, will they have the energy and the legs to do so?
I believe Rafa/Djoko would then start their SF in Court 1 and let these two have the CC to continue their marathon. The final will be played on Monday to allow these players a day’s rest.
No, Rafa and Nole will definitely gett CC tomorrow and these two will play on Court 1! Serena will end her match within an hour I am sure…
To be fair to Isner/Anderson, they’re battling their hearts out there; it’s not their fault (well other than they squandering away chances) that the match has to drag on and on, because there’s no TB in the fifth set. Given a choice, I doubt they want the match to drag on like this! Actually I pity them, that despite their efforts, some of the spectators were disrespectful to them.
We may be here cursing and swearing but at least the players couldn’t hear us; but not when the spectators shouting at them out there.
What could be worst is that Isner or Kevin retire due to injury!!
They are closing the roof now.
Rain or not they will soon have to extend the roof due to darkness…good for these two to rest a bit and enjoy some food to energize for the rest of the evening..,😀
They couldn’t ask them to start their match at 8 pm, could they? They are queueing for resale tickets right now.
match is lowkey boring all they’re doing is hitting big serves and theyre too tired to have a rally
OH MY GOD WILL IT EVER END
It’s surreal….tennis’s first horror movie..
Rafa would have an easy final, two more days to hold the trophy
cmon fg..the roof will be closed now..Rafa lost the sun advantage and morever roof closed..this plays into Djokovics hands right..what do you think people?
Tend to agree Sanju!😢
Yes. They deserve more respect. It’s not their fault for this organisation.
0-40!!
Lefty forehand was too good from anderson
epic
Will Anderson hold serve now to win the match now that he breaks serve at 25-24? Please Anderson, take it now!
I dont even know what to say!
At last!! 26-24, Anderson wins!!
So Rafa/Djoko next. They’ll have three hours to play, I hope they can finish the match tonight!
Wishful thinking if u ask me!!
Nole would not beat Rafa even the roof is closed, Rafa all the way for the trophy. Rafa in 4.
Hate idea of roof being closed!
Hope your confidence bears fruit
What are Rafa’s chances with roof closed, more drama!! Do his chances lesson??!
Sorry, lessen
Has rafa ever beaten novak indoors?
2010 WTF
I am so fucking devastated for John Isner. He poured his heart and soul out to lose in the second longest tennis match ever. All that effort, man he deserved it so much but so did Anderson 😔
Why are you devastated for Isner?? It would’ve been eqally devastating for Anderson to lose this match. I rooted for Anderson not just because of the much discussed politics reasons. Anderson was truly heroical against Fed and had the far more exhaustion quarterfinal. I’m utterly in awa that he pulled off the impossible again!
Of course it’s hard for Isner. He may feel like Mahut today – although it’s probably worse insofar as the stakes were much higher today.
I’m very, very happy for Anderson. He will take a deserved minor place in the Tennis Hall of Anecdotes now. The bad news: I don’t see how he can even have a small chance to win the final now – unless Rafa and Novak engage in an equally long session. Their match has probably turned into the true final. And it’s a pity that the circumstances are less than ideal. Some things need to change at Wimby!
The bad news
I would’ve been devastated for Anderson had he lost as well…
OK, I believe you of course. Was just a bit confused that your comment solely addressed the unlucky loser, but I haven’t followed all your comments…
I remember that after Isner/Mahut my first thoughts were also with the loser.
The quality of Anderson/Isner (from what I saw so far) was of course higher than Isner/Mahut, which mainly lasted so long because both contrahents were totally unable to get in some decent returns. It really boiled down to who would collapse first. Isner has become a better player since then, although returns still aren’t his forte. And Anderson is a better singles player than Mahut any day.
But Wimby needs to introduce the 5th set tie break asap! At least in all matches before the final. In the final the current rule could stay in place, since the players don’t have to compete in another match, and other matches don’t have to be postponed indefinitely.
If Trump had been there btw, he would’ve died of boredom right in the stadium because he has the attention span of a gold fish. So, maybe he should’ve been there after all, and the world would’ve got rid very elegantly of a problem 😁
And, people are complaining about Rafa/Djoko AO2012Final for going 6 hours, and so the 25 Sec time limit rule is/was enforced. Now, this match by big servers with not much rallies takes 6 hours 35 minutes!
Is it not also boring?
Something has to be done. Anyway, nice speech by Anderson in that after match interview. He too said the same thing about fifth set TBs instead of extended fifth set.
How TF is Anderson going to have a SHRED of energy/fight left for the Final after two consecutive never-ending five-set epics? Jeez Loueez.
I am very tensed so again I ask has nadal beaten novak indoors in any court?
Beijing Olympics?
I am nervous! Nole likes playing under the roof😡
This Wimbledon is so full of dramas, first the TOP ten players departing early from the women’s side, then Fed got beaten despite having MP; the Isner/Anderson almost never ending SF, and now Rafa/Djoko have to start their SF at 8pm?
If’s unlikely Rafa/Nole can finish tonight.
Anyone watching this in the USA on ESPN? Atm they are reshowing the last games of the first semi. Like we have not seen enough of it! Watching Rafa and Nole warm up would be better. Watching Rafa arrange his bottles would be better!
Oh, meant to ask if ESPN has announced their evening plans. They have a tendency to move tennis around from channel to channel….
Win or lose, I’m not going to criticise Rafa, as conditions now not favouring him. Wimbledon already screwed up when Fed lost, I hope the no.1 player can survive this SF mess.
Jesus Christ! I went to a hairdresser appointment and came back, checking live score all the way. So finally it ended!
Do they have the roof up yet? I don’t know what they are going to do now. Starting a match at 8:00 pm. This nonsense of no TB’s in the fifth set has to stop! Enough!
This is challenging to say the least fur tgese players.
I will be surprised if rafa can get a set. This looks a straight set beating for rafa🤤🤤
Sry wrong emoji
My heart sank as soon as it was confirmed this match would be played under the roof.
Rafa will be bagelled at least once