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 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 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!!! 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!"
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...
__________________ stroke <- point <- game <- set <- MATCH -> round -> tournament -> season -> career
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def.N. Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This what you see below is a combination of my notes during the match and the analysis of the official stats of the match which I did in the stats center.
First set:
* Isner broke Mahut's serve at 4:4 despite Mahut led 40-15
Second set:
* Mahut broke to "0" at 1:0 (breaking Isner's serve in that match to "0" looks now like a joke)
Third set:
* Mahut led in the tie-break 3:0, 4:2, 6:5, Isner had setpoint at 7:6 (and missed backhand return minimally, he was even thinking for a second that won that set), at 8:7 Mahut played a return-backhand winner DTL after Isner's more than 130 mph first serve!
Fourth set:
* Mahut won a game at 2:2 despite (15-40) and 5 another break points for Isner, the game contained 7 deuces, the longest game of the match, and the first one when a player won it despite break point down
* Mahut saved break point at 3:3 (30-40)
* Mahut was 5:4 (30-30), two points away from the match, Isner fought off with a service winner
* Mahut led 3:1 in the tie-break (made double faults at 3:1 and 3:4, risking second serve in both cases)
Fifth set:
Fifth-mega-legend set was dominated by games won to "0" or "15", sometimes to "30" but usually when a server already led 40-0 or 40-15... Here are all games when a server had some troubles, the scoreline all the time from Isner's perspective who was serving first (Italic - games with break points):
7:6 (30-30) - Mahut played great backhand cross from the baseline 10:9 (40-30) - first match point for Isner after Mahut's two double faults in a row (didn't risk the 2nd serve in both cases!), saved with an ace DTM
13:12 (30-15) - Mahut played high-backhand volley winner
16:16 (15-30)
18:18 (15-30)
24:23 (30-0) - then 3 deuces, Mahut got "code violation" in that game for screaming "shit!" (was furious after Layhani's overrule which changed apparent "ace" into "2nd serve" at "deuce")
24:24 (deuce) - Isner after winning that game screamed "Come on!" the only time in the 5th set
25:24 (deuce) 33:32 (40-15) - Mahut saved second MP - first in that game - after 7 strokes rally (hit the line - more outside than inside - with a backhand DTL and finished the point with volley winner); another MP saved with a 123 mph service winner
35:35 (deuce)
39:39 (deuce)
42:41 (30-30)
44:44 (15-30) - Isner served 3 consecutive aces
48:47 (30-15) 50:50 (15-40) - the only break points for Mahut in the 5th set; first saved with a 132 mph s.winner, the second one with an overhead after 5 strokes rally
51:51 (15-30)
54:53 (30-0) - Mahut served risky 2nd serve and finished the point with forehand volley, followed it with 3 aces in a row
54:54 (15-30) 59:58 - Isner had adv.MP despite 40-15 for Mahut in that game, the Frenchman saved 4th MP with an ace DTM
***
59:59 (deuce)
68:68 - Isner at the beginning of that game threw his racquet the only time in the match, was 0-30 down but won 4 points in a row 69:68 - (0-15), at (15-15) Mahut played an awful forehand-dropshot from comfortable position, (15-30), (30-30), forehand passing-shot DTL, (30-40), backhand passing-shot DTL - the end, first break of serve after 169 consecutive games (!!) won by a server
Here are games when a player served 3 aces or more:
Second set:
- Isner at 2:5
Third set:
- Mahut at 3:4
- Isner 4 aces in a row at 1:3 in the TB, so precisely did it at 1:3, 3:4, 4:4 and 5:6... at 4:4 the fastest serve of the match - 143 mph (230 kmh)
Fourth set:
- Mahut at 0:0
Fifth set:
- Isner at 0:0 (3 in a row), 5:5, 23:23, 27:27, 44:44 (3 in a row), 61:61
- Mahut at 2:3 (3 in a row), 16:17, 17:18 (4 in a row), 25:26 (3 in a row), 50:51 (3 in a row), 53:54 (3 in a row), 60:61 (3 in a row)
__________________ stroke <- point <- game <- set <- MATCH -> round -> tournament -> season -> career
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def. N. Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
MY PHOTOS
1-2) The beginning of the third set: comparison of record holders in served aces
3) The crowd at the end of the third set
4) Isner a moment after winning 4th set
5) The decision to suspend the match due to darkness
6) Legends arrive on the court to play legendary "59:59" set (the trainer helps Mahut with blisters)
7) First serve of the legendary "59-set"
8) Mahut serves at 1:2
9) Isner serves at 9:9
10) Isner has first MP at 10:9
__________________ stroke <- point <- game <- set <- MATCH -> round -> tournament -> season -> career
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def. N. Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
1) 18:18, equaled Wimbledon's fifth set record
2) Isner serves at 28:28, "30" in the fifth set for the first time is guaranteed
3) 32:32, Mahut's disappointment after losing a chance to have 30-0 on Isner's serve for the first time in the set!
4) 41:41, Layhani gets out from his chair the only time during 7-hours "59 set" to fix serve-sensor
5) No scoreboard a couple minutes after the frozen at 47:47
6) Isner a moment after winning the most spectacular point in the 5th set (FH passing-shot DTL after relatively long rally)
7) Mahut after a dive, he did it twice near the end of "59 set" both times received standing ovations
8) An interview with legends after second suspension
__________________ stroke <- point <- game <- set <- MATCH -> round -> tournament -> season -> career
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def. N. Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
1) Ridiculous queue 30 minutes before the Thursday's resumption
2) Legends appear on the court with Layhani
3) Frustrated Isner with towel in teeth at 62:62
4) A moment after the final point
5) The ceremony with Tim Henman
6) Hero of the day
7-8) Scorelines that day
__________________ stroke <- point <- game <- set <- MATCH -> round -> tournament -> season -> career
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def. N. Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloudygirl
Most people with seats on thursday sat on the court from 10 and watched the 2 wta matches first.
Yes, I could sit on Thursday as well, there were free places at 11 o'clock when I came to the grounds but didn't expect that ridiculous crowd an hour before the resumption...
__________________ stroke <- point <- game <- set <- MATCH -> round -> tournament -> season -> career
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def. N. Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
Voo, what would MTF do without you? Thank you so much for your detailed report and the included stuff
It's great that you attended this match live. People on GM already wondered in the match threads about you and your reaction to this match Probably not that many knew that you would witness this historical match live.
Please consider yourself goodrepped as I unfortunately have to spread reputation around first
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def. N. Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
I was thinking of you during this match and I'm delighted that you were actually there to witness it!
I recorded a fair bit of the match, most of the fourth set and from 15-15 to the end, it took 5 dvds to get it off the recorder! I uploaded the last two games and the ceremony if anyone would like it http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CQB7IHK0
The match of the century: J.Isner def. N.Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
The match of the century: J.Isner def. N.Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
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 
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 
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" 
Re: The match of the century: J.Isner def.N.Mahut (Wimbledon 2010, 1st RD)
Such an amazing match.
Probably not that many knew that you would witness this historical match live.
