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
[polldaddy poll=10053570]
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.