Voo de Mar
06-27-2010, 08:48 PM
6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7/9), 7-6(7/3), 70-68
Link to MTF thread (http://www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=164339)
Link to WP article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Wimbledon:_Mahut–Isner_match) (check also a comprehensive French version)
REPORT
Part I (6-4 3-6 6-7 7-6...)
On Tuesday when I had decided which matches I would've seen, I chose Mahut-Isner as one of them. I even remember what I was thinking about the possible outcome: "Isner will win something like 7-6 5-7 6-4 7-6, so would be nice to see two tie-breaks". When I first came around the court I realized it was "4-6 2:0" so I was a little bit disappointed because that scoreline had suggested that probably wouldn't have even been "7" in the numbers of first two sets. At one set a piece I decided to enter the court and had a pleasure to watch every single point of 10 out of 11 hours of that extraordinary match! Sets 3rd and 4th obviously didn't disappoint me, there were two tie-breaks what already was nice but what's maybe more important - the quality of tennis was quite high.
Part II (...59:59...)
The next day I decided to go on court No. 18 earlier, already to see Molik in action and wait for the future legends. I knew (after what I saw on Tuesday) that the record of the longest 5th set would've been broken. The scoreline was '6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-6(3)' and it reminded me about previous Wimbledon's record which had been made 10 years earlier when Philippoussis beat Schalken 4-6 6-3 6-7(7) 7-6(4) 20-18, it's tough not to see the similarity between the scorelines ;) They were very convincing in service games during sets No. 3 and 4, so I knew that after a night of rest one break should've been deciding, "Maybe will be 15-13, maybe 16-14, maybe a new record 22-20 or 23-21, or maybe it's just a wishful thinking?". Last two sets on Tuesday had great atmosphere on court, actually I was surprised that on Wednesday, more or less until 25:25 the crowd was very peaceful, some people went out with tired faces. I suppose people didn't realize that already at 20:20 they were a part of tennis history! Anyway more or less from 25:25 to 59:59 the atmosphere was stunning, really tough to describe. I had seen so many matches in the past but nothing can compare to this amazing mix of positive emotions entwined with unbelievable astonishment of the crowd. Isner is one of my favorite players, I hadn't a good opinion about Mahut. I considered him before that match as a better version of Ivan Navarro, so this type of player who is weak mentally, likes to go to the net but is often really awkward there, and his ground-strokes are very average. In the 5th set I had to change my opinion about Mahut, I was impressed by his both game-style and attitude. He was serving amazingly, that's obvious but his forehands, backhands and volleys were just perfect. It was a pleasure to watch his tennis, around 20:20 I started to cheer for him! And I was in a majority. I would say Mahut had an advantage among spectators '70/30'. There was not only Mahut vs. Isner on the court but also "Come on Nico!" vs. "Come on John!" on the stadium :cool: I was the only person there with "Come on Mahut!" and screamed also "Come on guys, let's go to '40'!" and "Come on guys, let's go to '50'!" After 50:50 I was already so extremely astonished that couldn't scream "Let's go to '60'!", I couldn't believe what I was seeing :D Honestly, at 40:40 I was convinced Mahut would win this match. He had better attitude, was very eager, very motivated, with bigger tennis repertoire, Isner began struggling with cramps, and I have to admit - he is not only a tremendous server, he's a great tactician and unbelievable fighter as well. Between, more or less 35:35 and 45:45, he had a few games when his 1st serve was slower than his usual 2nd serve! But his ground-strokes (especially from the forehand side) were of the highest order. It started to look totally unreal... Isner was hitting winner after winner from the baseline, and what the winners they were? Exceptional! Around 45:45 Isner overcame his physical crisis and enjoyed to hit his service bombs and aces again. In the second part of the legendary 5th set I had an impression that I was watching a match of robots "Isnernator vs. Marahuthon Man" ;) They were just perfect in service games but unfortunately schematic in return games though. I couldn't understand how it was possible that guys play spectacular winners from the baseline as servers but are at once completely hopeless from the same positions on the court as receivers! They didn't try to change anything on return games. What they could lose trying to stand inside the court or 5 meters behind, to open an occasion for a different kind of return and look for a chance to surprise the server? The match turned into a ridiculous computer game. When a server won first point in the game I already knew that a break wouldn't happen. The scoreboard stood still at 47:47, for me it was almost a metaphysical experience because I knew that it happened just in the moment when was tied the record of the longest set in 133 years of tennis history (http://www.menstennisforums.com/showpost.php?p=10105036&postcount=1)!!! At 55:55 I was a little bit frustrated because I realized that the match would've been suspended due to darkness, was even worse at 58:58 when players got a toilet break, and suddenly Isner had his 4th match point at 59:58, I was convinced it was going to the end - it wasn't after Mahut's another ace... The match was suspended despite our screaming "We want more! We want more!" and "Centre Court! Centre Court!" :o
Part III (...11-9)
On Thursday the court No. 18 was sieged. "Everyone" wanted to be a part of history, third different day and for the third time I was watching the match from a different angle, I managed to do it barely, the crowd who gathered around the "18" was crazy... Well, in the end it was actually 11-9, some kind of a relief for poor Mahut, I suppose it's better for him to lose that way than 58-60 the day before...
Link to MTF thread (http://www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=164339)
Link to WP article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Wimbledon:_Mahut–Isner_match) (check also a comprehensive French version)
REPORT
Part I (6-4 3-6 6-7 7-6...)
On Tuesday when I had decided which matches I would've seen, I chose Mahut-Isner as one of them. I even remember what I was thinking about the possible outcome: "Isner will win something like 7-6 5-7 6-4 7-6, so would be nice to see two tie-breaks". When I first came around the court I realized it was "4-6 2:0" so I was a little bit disappointed because that scoreline had suggested that probably wouldn't have even been "7" in the numbers of first two sets. At one set a piece I decided to enter the court and had a pleasure to watch every single point of 10 out of 11 hours of that extraordinary match! Sets 3rd and 4th obviously didn't disappoint me, there were two tie-breaks what already was nice but what's maybe more important - the quality of tennis was quite high.
Part II (...59:59...)
The next day I decided to go on court No. 18 earlier, already to see Molik in action and wait for the future legends. I knew (after what I saw on Tuesday) that the record of the longest 5th set would've been broken. The scoreline was '6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-6(3)' and it reminded me about previous Wimbledon's record which had been made 10 years earlier when Philippoussis beat Schalken 4-6 6-3 6-7(7) 7-6(4) 20-18, it's tough not to see the similarity between the scorelines ;) They were very convincing in service games during sets No. 3 and 4, so I knew that after a night of rest one break should've been deciding, "Maybe will be 15-13, maybe 16-14, maybe a new record 22-20 or 23-21, or maybe it's just a wishful thinking?". Last two sets on Tuesday had great atmosphere on court, actually I was surprised that on Wednesday, more or less until 25:25 the crowd was very peaceful, some people went out with tired faces. I suppose people didn't realize that already at 20:20 they were a part of tennis history! Anyway more or less from 25:25 to 59:59 the atmosphere was stunning, really tough to describe. I had seen so many matches in the past but nothing can compare to this amazing mix of positive emotions entwined with unbelievable astonishment of the crowd. Isner is one of my favorite players, I hadn't a good opinion about Mahut. I considered him before that match as a better version of Ivan Navarro, so this type of player who is weak mentally, likes to go to the net but is often really awkward there, and his ground-strokes are very average. In the 5th set I had to change my opinion about Mahut, I was impressed by his both game-style and attitude. He was serving amazingly, that's obvious but his forehands, backhands and volleys were just perfect. It was a pleasure to watch his tennis, around 20:20 I started to cheer for him! And I was in a majority. I would say Mahut had an advantage among spectators '70/30'. There was not only Mahut vs. Isner on the court but also "Come on Nico!" vs. "Come on John!" on the stadium :cool: I was the only person there with "Come on Mahut!" and screamed also "Come on guys, let's go to '40'!" and "Come on guys, let's go to '50'!" After 50:50 I was already so extremely astonished that couldn't scream "Let's go to '60'!", I couldn't believe what I was seeing :D Honestly, at 40:40 I was convinced Mahut would win this match. He had better attitude, was very eager, very motivated, with bigger tennis repertoire, Isner began struggling with cramps, and I have to admit - he is not only a tremendous server, he's a great tactician and unbelievable fighter as well. Between, more or less 35:35 and 45:45, he had a few games when his 1st serve was slower than his usual 2nd serve! But his ground-strokes (especially from the forehand side) were of the highest order. It started to look totally unreal... Isner was hitting winner after winner from the baseline, and what the winners they were? Exceptional! Around 45:45 Isner overcame his physical crisis and enjoyed to hit his service bombs and aces again. In the second part of the legendary 5th set I had an impression that I was watching a match of robots "Isnernator vs. Marahuthon Man" ;) They were just perfect in service games but unfortunately schematic in return games though. I couldn't understand how it was possible that guys play spectacular winners from the baseline as servers but are at once completely hopeless from the same positions on the court as receivers! They didn't try to change anything on return games. What they could lose trying to stand inside the court or 5 meters behind, to open an occasion for a different kind of return and look for a chance to surprise the server? The match turned into a ridiculous computer game. When a server won first point in the game I already knew that a break wouldn't happen. The scoreboard stood still at 47:47, for me it was almost a metaphysical experience because I knew that it happened just in the moment when was tied the record of the longest set in 133 years of tennis history (http://www.menstennisforums.com/showpost.php?p=10105036&postcount=1)!!! At 55:55 I was a little bit frustrated because I realized that the match would've been suspended due to darkness, was even worse at 58:58 when players got a toilet break, and suddenly Isner had his 4th match point at 59:58, I was convinced it was going to the end - it wasn't after Mahut's another ace... The match was suspended despite our screaming "We want more! We want more!" and "Centre Court! Centre Court!" :o
Part III (...11-9)
On Thursday the court No. 18 was sieged. "Everyone" wanted to be a part of history, third different day and for the third time I was watching the match from a different angle, I managed to do it barely, the crowd who gathered around the "18" was crazy... Well, in the end it was actually 11-9, some kind of a relief for poor Mahut, I suppose it's better for him to lose that way than 58-60 the day before...