Kevin Anderson is in the final of the showdown in Wimbledon. In a thrilling and historic semi-final of five sets, the South African beat John Isner.
It was the promised close semi-final in Wimbledon between John Isner and Kevin Anderson. Two players, who are considered one of the best serveers on the tour, fought a great fight in front of sold-out spectator stands. In the end Kevin Anderson won 7:6 (6), 6:7 (5), 6:7 (9), 6:4 and 26:24.
John Isner entered the match with 160 aces and 95 (!) service games in a row and presented himself hungry and awake from the beginning. But Anderson didn’t seem tired either after his exhausting five-set match against Roger Federer.
The first four games of the game lasted almost 25 minutes. The two service giants returned strongly and forced each other over and over again. However, neither Anderson nor Isner wanted to give in to his own service. Consequently, the first round went into the tiebreak, in which Anderson was just in front with 8:6.
As was to be expected, the game was marked above all by direct profit strokes at the serve. Isner, for example, fended off a break point at just over 200 km/h. Second set, second tiebreak after two hours of play. This time with the better end for US-American Isner, who after the 7:6 (5) set point released a primal scream towards his own box.
Towards the end of the third round, the South African managed the seemingly impossible. With great returns Anderson managed to break for the 5:3 lead after 110 service games won by Isner. However, the 32-year-old’s lead didn’t last long and Inser grabbed the immediate re-break.
In a 16-minute tie-break Isner fended off a set point and took a 2:1 lead in sets with a mini-break to 10:8.
Early in the fourth set Isner and John Gimpelstop, who had a loud fever in the pits, suffered a setback. With two sensational returns, Anderson took the American’s serve for the second time in the match and took the lead 3-2.
As in déjà vu, the slamming backhand must have hit longline for another re-break Anderson. Once again, the 32-year-old was not able to maintain his lead, but was only to be given another chance a few years later. With the break to 5:4 and improved nerves, Anderson served out to a 6:4 set win and 2:2 equaliser.
The decision should be made in the decisive fifth sentence.
As is well known, no tiebreak is played in the fifth set of a Grand Slam tournament. For the two strong serveers, this means above all consistency in their own service.
Anderson and Isner served their games up to 6:5 for the American without any problems. Then it was Anderson who picked up the pace again and put Isner under pressure at 7:7 with great strong returns. But Inser freed himself with crashing serves to the 8:7.
After that a true battle of wear and tear developed, which was to go down in history. Anderson seemed fresher as the game progressed and earned himself a 40:00 at 10:10, took his chance to break and finally, after more than six and a half hours of play, served for 26:24 and thus to win the match.
For Anderson, this is the second Grand Slam final of his career.
The match between Anderson and Isner will go down in history as the longest semi-final in Wimbledon. The longest match of all times also took place in Wimbledon – of course with the participation of John Isner. From 22 to 24 June 201o, Inser and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut duelled for 11:05 hours of play. Isner finally won 70:68 in the fifth set.