In epic 6:36, Kevin Anderson beats John Isner in second-longest Wimbledon match ever | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / November 22.
  • In epic 6:36, Kevin Anderson beats John Isner in second-longest Wimbledon match ever

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    (AP) — Kevin Anderson outlasted John Isner in the second longest match ever played at Wimbledon, winning the fifth set of their semifinal 26-24 after more than 6 ½ hours.

    Anderson became the first South African male to reach the final since 1921 with a 7-6 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-7 (9), 6-4, 26-24 victory on Centre Court.

    In a final set that lasted nearly 3 hours, Anderson had break points at 7-7, 10-10 and 17-17 before finally earning the decisive breakthrough to go 25-24 up — drawing a massive roar from the crowd. He made it 0-30 in that game by winning a point after falling on his back behind the baseline but still got up in time to return Isner’s shot.

    He then converted his first match point when Isner sent a shot wide — after 6 hours, 36 minutes.

    Anderson was coming off a 13-11 fifth-set victory over eight-time champion Roger Federer on Wednesday.

    Asked about the Wimbledon rule of no tiebreakers in the fifth set, he said: “I really hope we can look at this and address this because in the end you don’t even feel that great out there.”

    The only match to last longer at Wimbledon was Isner’s win over Nicolas Mahut in 2010, which ended 70-68 in the fifth set after 11 hours, 5 minutes.

    Anderson next faces Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic. He is the second South African to reach the final, after Brian Norton 97 years ago.

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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