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J ohn Isner will play no-trumps but a lot of them in his first semifinal of Wimbledon on Friday while, despite a shameless invitation this week from the American, the president and the First Lady Have tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle as Big John places his ninth free point ahead of Kevin Anderson.
Isner, at 33 and 6 feet 8 inches, played the most regular tennis of his life during the first 10 days. He said after defeating Milos Raonic in the quarter-finals on Wednesday: "It's by far the best Grand Slam of my career, and I've been playing for 11 years." was in a good place, physically I felt great. "
Not only did he crack ace, more than anyone else and 48 ahead of Anderson, who was not left with the ball in his hand, but he dominated the tournament table for the first 535 precision of 535 served in the box, conceded only seven break points and saved them all, well above the 64% average, and won all of his 95 service. It's very good, especially with the ball coming to the other end up to 144 mph.
While Trump would have been a distraction in the royal box – especially if the wind was to cut through his hair – the 15,000 Bathers Center Court instead has a double ticket from Isner and Anderson at 13h, followed by the main course, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
It is fair to say that the first semifinal will be less subtle than the second. Neither Isner nor the 6ft 8in South African (who lives in Florida with his American wife and has applied for dual nationality) will go slowly. Anderson has served as well, but not with the uninterrupted intensity of his friend and rival.
They met at the college – still the main daycare center for professional tennis in the United States – and met 11 times on the Tour. Isner leads his 8-3 face-to-face record, including his only game on the grass, at Queen's eight years ago, but most of these have been close.
Anderson arrives on the last Friday with the greatest possible boost Roger Federer, eight-time champion, in a decisive match on Court No. 1, the first visit of the Swiss since 2015. He will probably not want not go back.
Isner and his wife are expecting their first child in September and he says, "There are a lot of cool things going on right now, life changing things." He said the only time he played Court Center was during the London Olympics. , and admitted: "I have no idea what this yard looks like.I played Roger in 2012. I do not really remember it." He lost in two sets – with a tie-break, of course.
But, despite everything, Isner is on a good track, literally and figuratively, the victory of Anderson Federer could be the key to this match .It has considerably strengthened the confidence in itself, sometimes fragile, from one of the most understandable souls of the game. It will be close – and difficult on the backboards.
Nadal is also hardened after surviving Juan Martín del Potro in the best match of the men's draw, a judgment rendered from the BBC comment box by Andy Murray.
After smoothly crossing his first four games, the five-hour fight and eighty-seven minutes, the longer tournament, was probably Nadal's perfect preparation for Djokovic, who would test has endurance and movement in a totally different way. John Isner celebrates his quarter-final win against Milos Raonic "src =" https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/34ee6ae1a6b0faea735607904f3ba0e7c74aedfc/217_443_2470_1482/master/2470.jpg?w=300&q=55&auto=format&usm = 12 & did = & s = max 3cfa204ee11446de6714cf8636d13c22 "/>
This will be their 52nd meeting and, as Nadal has reminded everyone, no one in the game has such a rivalry. Djokovic leads by the unique victory.
"It's still a big challenge to face Novak," said Nadal (probably for the 51st time). "He is one of the most complex players I've ever seen in our sport."
It is this – in more ways than one. Djokovic looked like a troubled man for most of this tournament and was reluctant to talk about his serial explosions on the court, against officials, fans, his box and himself.
After defeating Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals, he can use this psychological energy to find an advantage – but that does not seem entirely convincing. It is true that he is the most dangerous when he is excited, but there are better ways to do it than to scream at the chair umpire or his team.
However, he played superb tennis this fortnight. Murray said the other day that it would not be surprising if Djokovic won his fourth singles title here. And he could be right.
