(AP) — Kevin Anderson outlasted John Isner in the second longest match ever played at Wimbledon, winning the fifth set of their semifinal 26-24 after more than 6 ½ hours.
Anderson became the first South African male to reach the final since 1921 with a 7-6 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-7 (9), 6-4, 26-24 victory on Centre Court.
Longest matches in #Wimbledon history…
⏱11hrs 5mins – J Isner d. N Mahut (2010)
⏱6hrs 35mins – K Anderson d. J Isner (2018)
⏱6hrs 9mins – M Knowles/ D Nestor d. S Aspelin/ T Perry (2006)#TakeOnHistory pic.twitter.com/EnSq6lRRKX— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018
In a final set that lasted nearly 3 hours, Anderson had break points at 7-7, 10-10 and 17-17 before finally earning the decisive breakthrough to go 25-24 up — drawing a massive roar from the crowd. He made it 0-30 in that game by winning a point after falling on his back behind the baseline but still got up in time to return Isner’s shot.
He then converted his first match point when Isner sent a shot wide — after 6 hours, 36 minutes.
Anderson was coming off a 13-11 fifth-set victory over eight-time champion Roger Federer on Wednesday.
Asked about the Wimbledon rule of no tiebreakers in the fifth set, he said: “I really hope we can look at this and address this because in the end you don’t even feel that great out there.”
The only match to last longer at Wimbledon was Isner’s win over Nicolas Mahut in 2010, which ended 70-68 in the fifth set after 11 hours, 5 minutes.
Anderson next faces Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic. He is the second South African to reach the final, after Brian Norton 97 years ago.
A place in the #Wimbledon final is at stake.
Buckle up, this is going to be good… pic.twitter.com/24hDWzZdlt
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018
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