6/24/10 5:49 AM | Ricky Dimon
Robin Soderling and Mikhail Youzhny will contest their second-round Wimbledon matches on Thursday. They will be overshadowed, however, by the continuation of the marathon between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut.
(6) Robin Soderling vs. Marcel Granollers
Soderling lost his opening match of the season to Robby Ginepri in Chennai, but he avenged the loss on Tuesday by hammering the American in the Wimbledon first round. The sixth-seeded Swede will now look to exact revenge on another early-season loss. Granollers stunned Soderling 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open, but the world No. 6 is coming off a runner-up finish at Roland Garros and is armed with a ton of confidence. This is a rematch of last year's second-round Wimbledon encounter, which Soderling won 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4, 7-5. Granollers looked good on Tuesday as he eased past Frederico Gil, but Soderling in straight sets is the pick.
(13) Mikhail Youzhny vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu
It will be the seventh career meeting between Youzhny and Mathieu when the two veterans do battle in the Wimbledon second round on Thursday. Youzhny leads the head-to-head series 5-1, including 1-0 on grass (2003 in Halle). They most recently faced each other in the first round of last season's U.S. Open, with Youzhny prevailing 2-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2. The 14th-ranked Russian kicked off his Wimbledon campaign by taking out Dudi Sela in a fourth-set tiebreaker. Mathieu advanced with a four-set win over fellow Frenchman Marc Gicquel. Plagued by injuries in 2010, the world No. 66 probably won't have enough to upset Youzhny.
(Q) Nicolas Mahut vs. (23) John Isner, continuation of match tied 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7), 6-7(3), 59-59
This match needs no introduction. Not only has it set records, but it has set records that may never be broken. The longest match in the history of the sport (by more than three hours) is sure to eclipse the 10-hour mark when play resumes on Thursday afternoon. Conflicting reports have the official time at either nine hours and 58 minutes or 10 hours on the dot. Isner has held four match points; one in the 20th game of the fifth set, two in the 55th game, and one in the 118th--yes, 118th--game. Mahut had two break chances in the 101st game of the fifth. Isner will come out serving at 59-59 in a one-for-the-ages match that is set to enter its third day.
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Mahut 77-75 :-)
homos , 6/24/10 6:22 AM
Isner 75-73.
Champion7 , 6/24/10 6:27 AM
If either of man can lift an arm to serve this afternoon it will be amazing testament to physical training, physiotherapists and their fitness levels.
Mahut 61-59
ed251137 , 6/24/10 7:02 AM
I say Sod over Granollers in four sets, just like last year. Sod also came to Wimbledon as a runner up at RG last year, and Granollers ran him close in every set. I'll expect the same thing this time as Granollers is also playing well this time. It seems Granollers can play better on grass than on clay. Its his luck that he has to run into Sod at Wimbledon twice in a row.
luckystar , 6/24/10 8:19 AM
Lolz, Isner vs. Mahut match was/is the talk of the whole world, I am joining the fun Isner, 101-99.
Raindrops , 6/24/10 8:49 AM
p.s.
Ricky, since this is extra ordinary match, maybe better if you put your "GOLDEN RACKET" on stake.
Raindrops , 6/24/10 9:05 AM
Mahut 66-64
Soderling in four with same score as of last year.
iMaFaN , 6/24/10 9:12 AM
Unless soderling's forheand and serve are misfiring badly,he wins in three easy sets. I think its Isner 90-88.
tj600 , 6/24/10 10:16 AM
Sod should win in straight sets...
Isner 1200-1198 * (postponed to Wimbledon 2017)
Shireling , 6/24/10 10:42 AM
Well, this is too big a match to get the picks in..
i'll just enjoy the game..
I'm simply proud to have witnessed the complete 5th set (except last 7 games), without watching any other match. and i'll see these men battling till the end..
oh and this was what was written in our local daily about this match
"It is perhaps one of the most bizarre stories in the history of tennis. John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, two journeymen pros earning a mundane living on the gruelling ATP tour have booked for themselves a place in the tennis history on the hallowed lawns of Wimbledon."
clayking , 6/24/10 12:06 PM
mahut, 1500- 1498 ! finishes Sunday week.....
deuce , 6/24/10 12:39 PM
absolutely...the golden racket is at stake and why not?! i request the other journalists to join in the fun... time for DIMON to ward off some challengers :P
my pick : 69-67 Mahut
vamosrafa , 6/24/10 1:06 PM
I'll go for isner
102-100
saxenanalin , 6/24/10 1:06 PM
Aww, what a gyp. Somehow we lost 200 winners between then overnight. now the score is only 219-217 Isner.
SenorPlaid , 6/24/10 4:45 PM
Nah, it's gonna be fast. 2 games, 4 games max.
SenorPlaid , 6/24/10 4:46 PM
100!
SenorPlaid , 6/24/10 4:47 PM
game on!!!!!!!!!!
Monalysa , 6/24/10 4:55 PM
Or it'll go all day, one of the two ...
SenorPlaid , 6/24/10 4:56 PM
well, 100 aces!!
another first..
clayking , 6/24/10 4:58 PM
how are these two looking physically CLAYKING???
vrael , 6/24/10 5:01 PM
I'm sorry but this is a bit boring now. I definitely don't wanna think about the mental state of the guy who loses this. And the winner is surely going to lose tomorrow. So what's the point?
stu , 6/24/10 5:07 PM
well, isner is looking as if there was no break..
and mahut is looking like he just started playing..
still both are holding with ease!!
clayking , 6/24/10 5:09 PM
thnx
vrael , 6/24/10 5:13 PM
I know this is probably not the best moment to air this thought but will someone explain to me how Mahut who looks so sprightly simply cannot crack this match when Isner can barely get himself back to the baseline after the changeover?
ed251137 , 6/24/10 5:21 PM
Have you seen John's serve ed?
smr , 6/24/10 5:22 PM
Just as a mater of interest,Goran Ivanisevic hit 200 aces en route to the Wimbledon final in 1992. Mahut/Isner have done that between them in this one match.
tj600 , 6/24/10 5:25 PM
Maybe they should call it a draw, and have each man play one set of all subsequent matches till the pair lose.
It won't be a disadvantage to the opponents coz these guys will be physically and mentally exhausted from this match till the end of eternity.
stu , 6/24/10 5:28 PM
Of course smr, I'm watching along with 100 million other people. I'm talking about all the missed opportunities he has had when the ball is in play.
ed251137 , 6/24/10 5:30 PM
The point at this point stu is to say you won the longest match in history. What else happens afterward doesn't matter. Regardless of how Wimby ends, this is the story of the tournament; this is what people will remember.
SenorPlaid , 6/24/10 5:36 PM
sorry ed, didn't mean to be cheeky ... Mahut is a pretty tall guy also and not a great returner (better than Isner, though).
smr , 6/24/10 5:36 PM
jmac said that this match might take away 6 MONTHS from both these athelete's careers.......hopefully they will be OK after this epic encounter!!
vrael , 6/24/10 5:39 PM
And just like that.
smr , 6/24/10 5:48 PM
Isner wins it. well done :)
tj600 , 6/24/10 5:49 PM
Match, Mr. Isner: 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 10-8.
SenorPlaid , 6/24/10 5:50 PM
Good timing Isner - Rafa and Haas are warming up on CC
ed251137 , 6/24/10 5:51 PM
Isner will never forget this match,same goes for Mahut.
tj600 , 6/24/10 5:51 PM
Feel sad for Nicolas Mahut, nice that Wimbledon gave each a special recognition.
smr , 6/24/10 6:05 PM
I just wish this match will never ends. I really feel sorry for Mahut. Too bad somebody has to lose. For me both players are the winner but Isner was the lucky one today. It looks like Mahut was going to cry the moment he lost the match. This is just insane. I don't think anybody will ever come closer to 70-68 in the near future. Kudos to both of them..
GoldenRose , 6/24/10 6:15 PM
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get your picks in.
I'm taking Isner 97-95.
RickyDimon , 6/24/10 6:10 AM