Isner-Mahut Match to be Very Popular

Written by: Staff on 18th June 2011

Isner-Mahut Match to be Very Popular

John Isner of the US feels the heat against Rafael Nadal of Spain in their first round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 24 May 2011. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA |

Wimbledon’s Order of Play Committee was already bracing themselves for the problems brought on by the forecasted initial few days of monsoon-like weather when the draw produced a re-run of last year’s John Isner/Nicolas Mahut 11-hour-and-five-minute marathon.

And immediately the Wimbledon organizers were being lobbied with demands that this match between two players ranked 31 and 99 in the world should merit a place on the sacred temple of Centre Court for this rematch.

Andy Murray, British no.1 and a man expected to play the majority of his matches on Wimbledon’s main stage began the lobbying. “Isner vs Mahut drawing each other in the first round after last year is the most amazing thing I’ve seen in tennis!” Murray tweeted. “Centre court anyone?!”

The problem that faces the referee Andrew Jarrett and the Order of Play Committee is that the forecast rain is already threatening a potential backlog of matches from the outside courts. If Isner and Mahut are allowed in under the Centre Court roof and produce another marathon, the problem will only be exacerbated.

Spectators arriving at Court 18, where the match took place over three days last years, will see a special plaque has been placed on the surrounding brick wall to commemorate the classic. Sentimentalists feel this latest Isner/Mahut rematch should return to the same setting.

The two players were as amazed by the quirk of the draw as everyone else. “It’s almost cruel that we have to play each other again and it’s going to be pretty nuts,” commented Isner. “I couldn’t believe it. I joked with him earlier in the week, last week, and said, ‘Watch us play each other.’ And he said, ‘No, there’s no way. That’s not even funny.’

“I’ve spoken to him today. We were supposed to practice at the club but we’re not going to now. It’s weird, but it happens sometimes when you schedule practice together.”

Mahut, who has just completed a book on the subject of the longest match with Philippe Bouin, the former chief correspondent of L’Equipe, the French sports daily, entitled The Match of My Life said: “It’s going to be strange because we have three days to think about it and that’s something we are going to have to deal with.”

Story by Bob Larson News Service