JOHN ISNER LOSES TO TSONGA AT WIMBLEDON MARATHON MATCH, ROGER FEDERER IS FACING ONE OF TWO REMAINING AMERICAN MEN

Written by: Staff on 3rd July 2016

JOHN ISNER LOSES TO TSONGA AT WIMBLEDON MARATHON MATCH, ROGER FEDERER IS FACING ONE OF TWO REMAINING AMERICAN MEN

epa05405409 John Isner of the US returns to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in their third round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2016. EPA/HANNAH MCKAY EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO COMMERCIAL SALES |

By Ricky Dimon

John Isner is no stranger to Wimbledon marathon. He came out on top, of course, in the most famous one–a 70-68 in the fifth set battle against Nicolas Mahut in 2010. But he’s lost a few, too, and that proved to be the case again on Sunday at the All-England Club.

After rain and then darkness delayed Isner’s third-round showdown against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday, the two competitors returned to the court on what was the first tennis installment of middle Sunday since 2004. Tsonga trailed two sets to one when the match was postponed, but he continued his comeback about 16 hours later and ended up prevailing 6-7(3), 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 19-17.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in action against John Isner of the US in their third round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2016. EPA/HANNAH MCKAY

Isner had two virtual match points to close things out on Saturday, when he led 15-40 on Tsonga’s serve at 5-5 in the third set. But the Frenchman fought off both break points, eventually took the set in a tiebreaker, and thus lived to see another day.

At 16-15 in the fifth, Isner got a look at an actual match point but Tsonga again was too clutch on his own serve. It was all but over when the 6’10” American was finally broken at 17-17, after which Tsonga converted a second match point of his own at 18-17, 40-15 to clinch victory.

“A little bit; a little bit,” the world No. 12 answered when asked if thoughts of Isner vs. Mahut crept into his mind during the latter stages of the fifth set. “The most important today was to win and continue. I was focused on the game and not really on the other things. But to be honest, yeah, once I said, ‘Maybe it’s going to be long like Nicolas.'”

Unfortunately for Isner, the outcome was not the same as the 11-hour, five-minute grind six years ago.

“He was serving very well and I knew the match could go a long way, but I wasn’t thinking about what happened [against Mahut],” Isner explained. “You know, I had a chance (on match point) and he came up with a good serve. I had some chances yesterday; (he) came up with good serves every time. That’s why he’s, you know, one of the best players in our game.”

Speaking of one of the best, Roger Federer will go up against Steve Johnson when fourth-round action takes place on Monday. With Isner gone, Johnson is one of just two remaining American men in the draw. The other is Sam Querrey, who stunned world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in four sets on Saturday.

Querrey, ironically, will go up against Mahut with a spot in the quarterfinals at stake.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Roger Federer (C) of Switzerland passes the crowd after a training session, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Britain, 03 July 2016. EPA/PETER KLAUNZER

Topics: 10sballs.com, All England Club, Atp World Tour, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, London, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Steve Johnson, Tennis News, The Championships, Wimbledon 2016

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10sBalls_com says:

July 3, 2016 at 9:33 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Isner Loses To Tsonga At #Wimbledon, Federer Is Facing One Of Two Remaining American Men
https://t.co/gZyQiCtSvx https://…
robinsnewswire says:

July 3, 2016 at 9:33 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Isner Loses To Tsonga At #Wimbledon, Federer Is Facing One Of Two Remaining American Men
https://t.co/gZyQiCtSvx https://…