Game Over! American John Isner Beats France's Nicolas Mahut in Record-Breaking Wimbledon Match
Isner 'pretty tired' after longest match in Grand Slam history ends on 3rd day.
LONDON, June 24, 2010— -- It all started quietly. But during three days and more than 11 hours of tennis, the Wimbledon match between Frenchman Nicolas Mahut and American John Isner became a record-breaking battle that captivated fans around the world.
After 11 hours and five minutes of play, the longest match in Grand Slam history ended today with a score of 70-68. Isner beat Mahut in the fifth set of their record-breaking battle.
"You would think at some point he would have crumbled. It was phenomenal," said Isner's coach, Scott Boynton."
Watch 'World News' for more on the record-setting match tonight on ABC.
At a press conference following today's victory, Isner said that Wednesday's marathon 10 hours of play left him "completely delirious" and struggling to explain how it even happened.
"When I left the match yesterday, I really thought it was a dream. I didn't think that type of match was possible," Isner told reporters.
Last night, Isner iced his arm and ate platefuls of food to recover, including take-out pizza and chicken delivered by tennis star Andy Roddick.
The 25-year-old Isner said that grueling training sessions in Florida's intense heat and humidity had prepared him for long play, and his coach even joked before the tournament that he'd be able to play 10 hours. But he never imagined that it would actually happen.
"In a way, I'm kind of glad it happened, although I am pretty tired," Isner said, though he promised to be ready to continue competing in the tournament.
The seemingly-ordinary first-round match between Isner and Mahut was suspended Tuesday evening for darkness after four sets.
The fifth set of the match began on Wednesday afternoon, and resumed again today.
The 6-foot-9-inch Isner towered over Mahut, and today Isner joked that his large size might have given him an advantage in endurance.
"I have a little excess in the stomach area, and I knew that was going to come in handy one day," he said, calling it a "reserve tank."
