It’s absurd and time for a change, insists McEnroe

JOHN McENROE slammed Kevin Anderson’s marathon win over John Isner as ‘absurd’ and called for tennis to change its rules. Anderson took six hours 36 minutes to finally see off Isner, winning the deciding set 26-24. McEnroe, who was commentating on the match for the BBC, said: ‘As an ex-athlete watching these guys go at it I have nothing but respect, but to me it is getting absurd. I have talked about it, even after that 70-68 (the longest match in history between Isner and Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010), to me that was the perfect time to change the rules. ‘I am amazed that the top players have not insisted, or that the powers that be have not recognised the need for this.’ The US Open introduced the idea of fifth set sudden death tiebreak 48 years ago and the Anderson-Isner epic is likely to focus minds on the concept, both at Wimbledon and the Slams in France and Australia, who have also held off copying the US. Such marathons are more likely at Wimbledon, where conditions are quick and in an era when players are getting taller with hugely effective serves. In the wider context tennis is currently trying to adapt itself to modern shorter attention spans. The US Open — first again — is bringing in a 25-second shot clock this year to properly police time taken between points. Wimbledon is famous for valuing tradition, but Isner Anderson may yet spell the end of these kind of epics.