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Kevin Anderson became the first South African in nearly a century to reach the Wimbledon final but at what price … He had to fight for 6:36 to overcome the American John Isner Friday
The protagonists of the second semifinal, world No.1 Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had to wait patiently for long hours, before entering the "Short Center". And they will return Saturday at 13:00 local (12:00 GMT, 14:00 mainland) to continue the 52nd episode of their rivalry (26-25 for the Serb). The women's final between American Serena Williams and German Angelique Kerber will begin after
If the roof of the Central can prolong the debate in the evening, there is still an end to everything in London. The curfew imposed by local residents does not allow play beyond 23:00 local time (22:00 GMT, midnight continental time).
And at 23:02, Djokovic had just won the third set to lead 2 heats to 1 (6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11/9)) after 2:54 of play in a match of a very high level.
– Rain of winning strokes –
It was after a final set of 2:55 that Anderson had the skin of the giant Isner: 7-6 (8/6), 6 -7 (5/7), 6-7 (9/11), 6-4, 26-24, completing the second longest single in Grand Slam history. He became the first player in his country to join the final in London since Brian Norton in 1921.
Isner is definitely a regular in the long matches. It was he who had won the longest in history, already on the English turf against French Nicolas Mahut, in 2010 in the first round … after 11:05 of play spread over three days, 70-68 in the fifth set.
On the central court, on Friday, the winning strokes rained: 247 winning strokes in total (118 for the South African, 129 for the American). And the aces also as planned: 103 aces in total, 49 for Anderson and 53 for Isner.
With 214 total appearances in six games, the American became the new record holder on a Wimbledon edition, overtaking Croatian artificer Goran Ivanisevic, who had stacked him 212 at the end of his run to the title in 2001.
A meager consolation for the winner of the Miami Masters 1000 (in April) who had waited for his 41st tournament to finally reach the last four of a Grand Slam tournament.
"I feel horribly bad ", said the 33-year-old American, who was treated several times for blisters during the game and also visibly suffering from a foot, at a press conference.
– Anderson for a change of rule –
In the decisive set, the victory smiled on the one who was the most resistant, but after efforts to lose the reason. "It's just a cruel and unnecessary punishment inflicted on these two guys," said former US champion John McEnroe, three-time winner in London (1981, 1984, 1985) commenting on the match for the BBC.
The two giants – 2.08m for Isner, 2.03m for Anderson – gave a warm embrace at the end of the game.
Harbadé, the 32-year-old South African had a hard time enjoying his victory and especially advocated a change of the rules, with why not the application of the tie-break in the fifth set, as the US Open. "I really hope things will change in Grand Slam, because after so much time on the court, we do not feel great," Anderson said, just after the match.
The finalist of the US Open had already played for nearly 4:15 in the quarter to bring down the defending champion, the Swiss Roger Federer. "I will have to recover as much as possible before the final on Sunday," he said.
Will he have enough time to be competitive in the face of the challenge ahead? At least he will not play Saturday, unlike Nadal and Djokovic …
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