Records smashed in Wimbledon’s 10-hour epic
Records tumbled before a transfixed crown on Court 18 as Isner and Mahut ended the day locked at 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7/9) 7-6 (7/3) 59-59, in a match which has already lasted a total of nearly 10 hours.
Both players held their serve for an incredible 118 games in the decider before the enveloping gloom over SW19 brought a halt to proceedings shortly after 9pm.
The match goes down as the longest in grand slam history, and also sets new benchmarks for the most games played in a single set and match, while both players also surpassed the previous record for aces – with Isner claiming a new record of 98 and Mahut hitting 94, also beating the previous best.
Such was the gruelling nature of the contest, even the courtside scoreboard packed up after around eight hours, perhaps unable to cope with the rapidly increasing numbers it was being asked to process.
American Isner, the 23rd seed, and French grass-court specialist Mahut came on court to begin the final set at just after 2pm today after they were halted last night at two sets all due to darkness.
But no-one could have predicted what would unfold as both displayed supreme levels of concentration to offer up a serving masterclass.
In a match littered with diverting statistics, perhaps the most striking was the low number of break-point chances in the final set.
Isner forced match point at 10-9 before Mahut fought back to hold. The American also forced two break points at 33-32 but his gritty opponent once again batted the danger away to maintain the status quo.
An air shot from Isner at 41-41 underlined the extent to which fatigue was beginning to affect the players.
In the 101st game, Mahut brought up his first break points of the decider, but in keeping with the contest the American – who appeared to be feeling the pace more than his opponent – fought back as he again cranked up his formidable serve.
Isner brought up match point at 59-58 just after 9pm, but Mahut sent down an ace to see that off before another thumping serve forced the error on the return and the American’s chance was gone.
With the score at 59-59 and light fading, the players were offered the chance to come off court. With Mahut keen to call it a day, the decision was taken to continue tomorrow.
Isner was less enthused by the decision but accepted his fate, telling the BBC: “We both couldn’t agree to play, so it got cancelled.”
“Nothing like this will ever happen again ever,” he said. “He’s serving fantastic, I’m serving fantastic and there is nothing more to it.”
Mahut added: “He’s a champion and we are fighting like never before.
“Someone has to win. Everyone wants to see more but we have to come back tomorrow.”
Andy Roddick overcame an impressive start from Frenchman Michael Llodra to canter into the third round. Roddick recovered from losing the first set in convincing fashion to triumph 4-6 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7/2) on Centre Court, the setting for last year’s epic final defeat to Roger Federer.
Lleyton Hewitt enjoyed a straightforward passage into the third round as opponent Evgeny Korolev of Kazakhstan withdrew in the third set of their meeting on Court One.
The 2002 Wimbledon champion was leading 6-4 6-4 3-0 when Korolev had to retire with an arm injury.
Gael Monfils, the 21st seed from France, will be Hewitt’s next opponent after he defeated Slovakia’s Karol Beck 6-4 6-4 6-7 (4/7) 6-4.
Roger Federer again lived dangerously against an unfancied opponent before remaining on course to defend his Wimbledon title.
the six-times champion faced Ilija Bozoljac, a qualifier from Serbia ranked 152nd in the world with the nickname Bozo. But Bozo was in no mood for joking as he pushed the Swiss ace all the way in an absorbing, second-round match on Court One.
Federer, relegated from Centre Court for the first time for three years, triumphed 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 7-6 (7/5) and his serve was not broken throughout.
Third seed Novak Djokovic overcame the brutal serve of Taylor Dent to secure a 7-6 6-1 6-4 triumph.
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