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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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…