Anderson fends off Isner in recordbreaking semi tie

South African wins battle of servers

Kevin Anderson overcame marathon man John Isner to reach the Wimbledon final after the longest semi-final in grand slam history yesterday.

Anderson, the eighth seed, won a gruelling battle of the big servers as records tumbled on Centre Court.

The exhausted players embraced at the net after a classic encounter eventually finished 7-6 (8/6) 6-7 (5/7) 6-7 (9/11) 6-4 26-24 in South African Anderson’s favour after six hours and 36 minutes.

Isner – whose run to the last four is his best at any grand slam – will always be renowned at the All England Club for having won the longest grand slam match ever played, when he beat Nicolas Mahut on Court 18 in a first-round match lasting 11 hours and five minutes in 2010.

That match spanned three days, while this one looked set to run all night at one stage, having begun shortly after 1pm.

Isner, 33, stands 6ft 10in and come the final points he looked almost too weary to move for the ball.

It was a severe test of stamina for both players, as well as those watching, and meant a long wait for Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic who were due on next in the second semi-final.

The match was not pretty but it was enthralling, Isner leading by two sets to one after three tie-breaks before 32-yearold Anderson made a break of serve count to level up.

Isner’s 53 aces meant he beat Goran Ivanisevic’s Wimbledon record haul – the Croatian sent down 213 in 2001 –but the 214th he served was his last of the tournament.

Anderson weighed in with 49 aces to reach 172 so far.

Anderson had won 13-11 in a decider to knock out defending champion Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, so he knew his way around a lengthy match as well, but his legs must be feeling the strain now.

Afterwards, Anderson told the BBC: “I don’t know what to say, just playing in those conditions was really tough on both of us.

“John’s a great guy and I really feel for him. I have so many mixed emotions getting through something like that.

“Congratulations to John for such a great tournament and I’m sure he’ll come back stronger soon.”

Three-time winner John McEnroe said in commentary that there should be fifth-set tie-breaks at grand slams and Anderson agreed, adding: “I really hope we can address this.”

PA. Kevin Anderson, right, with John Isner at the end of their six-and-a-half hour epic battle.