The tall tale of Anderson and Isner
KEVIN ANDERSON and John Isner share a long history that goes back to before the pair hit the professional ranks.
That history has its foundation in the hectic American collegiate sports environment where both starred for their respective varsity tennis squads in the NCAA events.
The collegiate sports circuit in the US is not for the faint hearted; it’s a tough arena and it’s where Isner and Anderson forged their pro careers and rivalry, which has now led to a meeting on Centre Court at Wimbledon in the semi-finals of the sport’s most illustrious tournament.
Anderson was a standout performer for the “Fighting Illini” of the University of Illinois, while Isner was the spearhead for the “Bulldogs” of the University of Georgia.
“We played each other four or five times in college... we’ve been lined up against each other for 14 years... for us this match-up is especially cool and it’s a very nice spotlight on college tennis,” Isner said after coming through his quarter-final against Canadian Milos Raonic.
Development programmes have improved immensely in South African tennis since Anderson’s junior days, which led to him having to seek improvement in the US.
“It’s not easy coming from South Africa, it’s very far from the tennis scene,” Anderson said after his enthralling win against Roger Federer.
It’s a comment he’s made before to illustrate the difficulties youngsters from this country face in trying to pursue a career in the sport.
Nevertheless, his achievements in the last 10 months, including a run to the US Open final last August, have helped place a spotlight on the sport in this country which Tennis SA are working hard to take advantage of.
Ultimately however, tennis is an individual sport and Anderson’s success is largely down to himself.
He has put himself in a position where the biggest stage in the sport is just one win away and the lessons he took from getting through to the US Open final have stood him in good stead at this year’s Wimbledon.
“At the US Open, because it was pretty new being in the semis and in the final, it was a lot of excitement, a lot of emotions. I think going into the finals, there was maybe a bit too much relief that, ‘Hey, I’m in the finals,’ and I didn’t give myself as much of a chance to win that match from a mental side,” said Anderson.
With Isner standing 2.08m tall and Anderson 2.03m, it may arguably be the tallest Wimbledon semi-final in history.
Isner holds a strong advantage in meetings between the pair, winning eight of the 11 matches they’ve played, including the last five, although the last of those was three years ago.
In their only match on grass, at the Queen’s Club event a decade ago, the American was also the victor in two tight sets.
“It’s a huge match, for sure,” said Isner. “Kevin’s been there before, he made the US Open final last year; I’m trying to get to where he’s already been, he’s trying to get back there, have another crack at a championship, so it’s gonna be a fun match.”
The pair will be first on court at 2pm SA time today, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic playing the second semi-final thereafter.