Friday?s main event at Wimbledon is a semifinal matchup between titans Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. However, viewers around the world will have to survive John Isner and Kevin Anderson’s marathon match first. This semifinal match has set a new Wimbledon record.
Isner and Anderson are two of the biggest servers in the field and the tallest. They managed to rack up a staggering amount of aces as three of the first four sets went to a tiebreak. Anderson won the fourth set 6-4 to take the match the distance.
Since the fifth set at Wimbledon doesn?t go to a tiebreak, the match dragged on past the six-hour mark on Centre Court. The duo smashed the record for the longest semifinal match at Wimbledon, and they weren?t even close to finished.
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Neither player gave and inch and the match dragged on to 24-24. Finally, Kevin Anderson managed to get the decisive breakthrough. He closed out the 6 hr 36 minute match with a score of 26-24 in the final set. As of now, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will be playing under a closed roof.
As the endless games piled on in the fifth set, fans on Twitter were beginning to grow restless.
— Mark van der Heever (@Mark_vdHeever) July 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/JonBadot/status/1017841727258972162
I'm starting to believe that I'm going to pass CA before this Anderson vs Isner match finishes #Wimbledon
— Brown mundane (@silentmonger) July 13, 2018
Isner has nothing left. Feel for him
— D Ross (@DRoss8989) July 13, 2018
This is how this Isner/Anderson match feels like #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/LmTErKHTba
— Sheenuh (@_sheenuh_) July 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/ThisIwah/status/1017841670535237633
Anderson breaks Isner in game FORTY-NINE of fifth set—will serve for match.. #wimbledon
— Bob Lazzari (@Bob_Lazzari) July 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/ByTheMinTennis/status/1017841471582625792
He’s done it!!!
What a sensational win for @KAndersonATP 26-24 in the 5th!
A great spectacle from Anderson and Isner! #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/1GI5LUOD9b
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) July 13, 2018
IT'S OVER! Kevin Anderson d. John Isner 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 6-7(9), 6-4, 26-24, in 6h35 (3rd longest ever singles match) to reach at #Wimbledon a 2nd Grand Slam final in 10 months. pic.twitter.com/qmAkMIOutx
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 13, 2018
Anderson falls down while in a point, drops racquet, gets up, picks it up in his left hand, and hits a lefty forehand, and wins the point. Goes on to break Isner. Unbelievable #Wimbledon
— annanya (@annanyajohari) July 13, 2018
The fitness levels of these guys is absolutely outrageous!!
6.5hrs game time….dear me!
IF I got the ball over the net I’d probably pull my hamstring running for the return 😂 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/bs0xL6bpJx— Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) July 13, 2018
If Anderson gets broken here, we just default them both and call Nadal-Djokovic the final #Wimbledon
— Trenton Jocz (@TrentonJocz) July 13, 2018
Dusk. #Wimbledon
Anderson finally breaks – courtesy of falling onto his back… playing left handed & winning the point.
Kevin to serve at 25-24 for a spot in the final.
Crowd going ape droppings🐒 pic.twitter.com/DQP0nsZLTD— Craig O'Shannessy 🇺🇦 (@BrainGameTennis) July 13, 2018
Kevin Anderson!! A South African in the #Wimbledon final.
— Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) July 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/tom2016jp/status/1017843154777620480
Tough break for @JohnIsner at #Wimbledon, but I know all of us in #DawgNation are proud of his performance! Once a Dawg, Always a Dawg!!
— Joni Taylor (@CoachJoniTaylor) July 13, 2018
#Wimbledon man don't say anything just RT if you proud of this boy @KAndersonATP pic.twitter.com/2zx1293ljl
— SK (@Mofokeng_SK) July 13, 2018
Game, Set, MATCH 🇿🇦 @KAndersonATP!! Into the #Wimbledon 🎾 finals after 6h 35m semi.
— Anne Crypto (@Annecryptomiss) July 13, 2018
What a game of Tennis!!! Thank you Anderson 🙈🎾 #Wimbledon #Anderson
— Laura (@lauracon23) July 13, 2018
Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!
It's over Anderson beats Isner 26-24 in the 5th set and goes into the #Wimbledon final!— Ben Karpinski (@followthebounce) July 13, 2018
ANDER—SZN
6 hours and 35 minutes to take down Isner #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0GlqzSHQ9A
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 13, 2018
Andersoooooooooon! You biscuit!!!
— Khozality🇿🇦 (@khozalities) July 13, 2018
GAME SET AND MATCH
KEVIN ANDERSON TAKE A BOW #Wimbledon— abubakr 🇵🇸 (@Abubakr_i6) July 13, 2018
Anderson wins after 6hrs and 35mins of tennis #Wimbledon #SSTennis
— Tomisin (@slim_tommiey) July 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/tharp1982/status/1017843039694356481
#Wimbledon 1st time in 97yrs a South African will be in the final#ThumaMina
Congratulations Kevin Anderson👏
6 hrs 25'— noel crowie (@NoelCrowie) July 13, 2018
Roof being closed
Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic will be an indoor match
They can play until 11pm tonight#Wimbledon— Ian (@Mancman10) July 13, 2018
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Congratulations to @KAndersonATP for reaching your first #Wimbledon final make #SouthAfrica proud
— kwazi Zikode Nkwanya (@picane_kwazi) July 13, 2018
For the first time in 97 years a South African is in the Final.
I'm not into tennis 🎾 but I'm here to experience the history in a making
Say whatever you want to say #Wimbledon— cuddly Ted 🐻 (@KatlehoKm) July 13, 2018
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