By the end I think both of them were so gassed they were hoping the other guy would make a mistake- and they were not going to go all out on every game because they would have exhausted themselves even further. Players do use that strategy under less extreme circumstances. They concede some points to conserve their energy: if you go all out at 40-0 down and win a point, you’re still probably going to lose the game. But if you go up 0-15 or 15-30, it makes sense to step on the gas because you might have a chance to get a quick break. I remember some points where Isner tried to guess where Mahut was going to serve and just lunged in one direction or the other. If he guessed right he’d be in position to hit a quick winner; if not he’d lose the point but he’d also avoid a long rally. I don’t think either of them wanted this. And I think it needs to be pointed out that Isner wanted to keep playing after 9 p.m. and Mahut didn’t.
Predictions for the final score?
I say:
Isner wins 66-64
Both of the women’s matches on Court 18 ended quickly, with Radwanska and Pennetta each losing only two games. So they’ll be back on court at around 10:30. (The Bryan Brothers are supposed to play after Isner and Mahut which is… optimistic.) I say Mahut wins 63-61.
I just can’t see Isner coming back that soon. My guess is that he couldn’t see it either and that’s why he wanted to keep playing yesterday. 63-61 Mahut sounds about right to me.
I can imagine how stiff both players must be, the lactic acid buildup and all.
Isner looked totally whipped at the end of the match, but Mahut was doing all the hustling. I think the match end very quickly today, within 10 minutes, or it goes another hour or so.
I want to see it go another day.
So if it goes five days and the score is still tied, who gets the Ashes?
And they’re off…
I’m sticking with Isner to win it.
Day Three of the Isner-Mahut Hostage Crisis is underway!
There are two other tense matches happening, by the way. Lacko and Jeremy Chardy (young French player) are at 6-5 in the fifth set. And Tsonga took a two-set lead on Dolgopolov, but Dolgopolov fought back. They’re on serve with Tsonga also up 6-5 in the fifth.
Yup. 100 to 98 for Isner. That’s my prediction.
Chardy broke serve in the 13th game and held on to beat Lacko 8-6 in the fifth. He almost choked away a two-set lead. Isner now has 101 aces to 98 for Mahut. Looks like we’re heading for 61-61.
Mahut looks refreshed. Isner does not but he’s still got his serve.
62-62. I told someone at work that if this didn’t end in about four games, it’d probably last into the late 70s. And they’ve now played six games.
It’d be funny if the Queen came barging in with her entourage to watch it!
Watch, hell. She could probably take on the winner as soon as they finish.
I am pretty sure Nostradamus predicted this.
Isner should break the next one for me to be right.
Tsonga beat Dolgopolov 10-8 in the fifth. The Wimbletaan Death March continues.
I really want to make more cricket jokes, because a really strong batting run (specifically, Graeme Smith v. England) is the only thing I’ve ever seen that remotely compares, in terms of sheer monotonous endurance. But I’ll spare you.
Wimbletann…very well done sir.