Long Match

June 23, 2010 10:23 AM

Right now, John Isner of the USA and Nicolas Mahut of France are engaged in the longest professional tennis match of all-time [live blog]. As of this posting, they are into the fifth set of their first round match at Wimbledon, where the score is knotted 37-37. The match has been going for more than seven hours and has broken all previous records of tennis match length.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates (764 comments total)

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....ad infinitum...

Man, they must be exhausted.
posted by zarq at 10:28 AM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Isner has also broken the record of most aces in a single match - he currently has 79.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:29 AM on June 23, 2010

Wow. Those guys must be ready to keel over out there.
posted by deadmessenger at 10:31 AM on June 23, 2010

The game was suspended last night after having played 2 hours and 54 minutes. And now they have played well over four hours today.
posted by norm at 10:32 AM on June 23, 2010

I'm picturing them both playing with sandwiches in the other hand.
posted by echo target at 10:32 AM on June 23, 2010 [14 favorites]

In other news: the ballboys and girls, now in their mid-forties, have arthritis from kneeling too long, the umpire has developed severe haemorrhoids and Sir Cliff Richard has finally succumbed, in a new world record, at the age of 137.
posted by MuffinMan at 10:32 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

You can watch online at www.espn3.com btw.
posted by butterstick at 10:33 AM on June 23, 2010

If you're in the States, you can watch the match on ESPN2. You can also watch online here if you have ESPN3.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:34 AM on June 23, 2010

Another endurance sport in the making!
posted by filthy light thief at 10:34 AM on June 23, 2010

From the wikipedia page:

In 1984, Vicki Nelson took 6 hours, 31 minutes to defeat Jean Hepner 6–4, 7–6(11). The match featured a 29-minute, 643-shot rally, the longest in professional tennis history

wat
posted by norm at 10:35 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Edit Comment pony?

www.espn3.com even.
posted by butterstick at 10:36 AM on June 23, 2010

They should do like the monkey-men in Flash Gordon. When the battle gets too dull turn on the tilting floor and the random spikes.
posted by Babblesort at 10:36 AM on June 23, 2010 [9 favorites]

Okay now it's 39-39.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:37 AM on June 23, 2010

ESPN3 is incredible.
posted by reductiondesign at 10:39 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hell of a day for sports.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:39 AM on June 23, 2010

reductiondesign: ESPN3 is incredible because your ISP pays ESPN money for every subscriber, whether they use the site or not. It's one step on the way to making Internet service more like cable TV service, which is a bad thing indeed. (sorry for the derail)
posted by zsazsa at 10:45 AM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

reductiondesign: "ESPN3 is incredible."

It is pretty nice, yeah. It's only available if your ISP pays for it, though.
posted by graventy at 10:45 AM on June 23, 2010

Here I thought I was getting a nice working by biking AND walking 2 hours each yesterday. Sweet mercy.
posted by Lemurrhea at 10:46 AM on June 23, 2010

I remember Isner's big US Open debut a couple years ago. He played well, even against Federer! (And he's really cute, too.)
posted by sallybrown at 10:47 AM on June 23, 2010

How crazy! I love watching tennis - it's a battle of sheer will and inches. Much like my sex life.
posted by helmutdog at 10:50 AM on June 23, 2010 [9 favorites]

I love that the Wikipedia entry not only has this match (listed as "still in progress") but also has the length including minutes. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be updating in real time.
posted by DU at 10:52 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

For perspective, in other Grand Slam events, where players play a tiebreaker in the fifth set, the most games that could be played in an entire match is 65 (13 games max per set for 5 sets). These guys have played 82 games in just this one set.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:53 AM on June 23, 2010

Dumb tennis question: is the rule that you have to win by two games to close out the set?
posted by hincandenza at 10:54 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Guardian liveblogger is slowly going mad:

The sun is sinking and the court is a blur. It is at this stage that Zombie Isner starts to look like Zombie Mahut and the Zombie Umpire stops croaking and starts to chirrup like a grasshopper. In other words, we're here but we're gone. Is anyone still alive up in the stands or have they now all been eaten? It's 40-40. And that's games, not points

Still no sign of that angel either, the one that swore blind that she would come down and spirit the players off to Disneyland Paris where they could ride the Thunder Mountain rollercoaster forever and ever amen. I'm now starting to wonder if she really exists.

posted by Electric Dragon at 10:54 AM on June 23, 2010 [45 favorites]

They are going to have to change the tie-breaking rules. The other sets can get to at most 7-6 or 13 games.

This set is now at 41-41, or 82 games!
posted by eye of newt at 10:55 AM on June 23, 2010

41-41 at the moment? Do I read that right?!
posted by joe lisboa at 10:55 AM on June 23, 2010

I can't believe that someone with user name hincandenza is asking a tennis question!
posted by Babblesort at 10:56 AM on June 23, 2010 [13 favorites]

Dangit Babblesort, I had that same thing all typed out, and on preview, you beat me!

Either these guys are very evenly matched, or neither one of them is good at closing the deal.
posted by statolith at 10:57 AM on June 23, 2010

This is absurd. In a good way.
posted by reductiondesign at 10:57 AM on June 23, 2010

Isner just held serve so it is 42-41.

At Wimbledon, there are tiebreakers in the first four sets but not in the fifth set. Once you get to a fifth set (meaning each player has won two sets), a player must win by two games.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:58 AM on June 23, 2010

Got it on live right now, 42-41. Holy shit.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:59 AM on June 23, 2010

I know, how embarassing! But Wiki answered my question- indeed it's two games to win, except when 7-6, but the final set has no tie-break so they just keep going.

This is insane... I can't imagine how they're still standing!
posted by hincandenza at 10:59 AM on June 23, 2010

This is the sort of match that shows the advantages and disadvantages of not having a tie-breaker for the 5th set. Advantages because no tie-break gives you amazing matches like this, of course.

Disadvantages, purely from a fan perspective not even accounting for logistics of broadcast or scheduling, is that I can't imagine either Isner or Mahut have any chance of winning tomorrow. (The match the winner of this will play in is the third match at their court, so it will happen pretty early in the day tomorrow.) I could be wrong, and they manage to win (or at least don't lose in straight sets), that will be one of the most incredible victories in tennis history I'd say.
posted by skynxnex at 11:00 AM on June 23, 2010

Hah. ESPN just said, "Our World Cup coverage has come and gone, and they're still here."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:01 AM on June 23, 2010

Is it just me or does losing the longest match ever really ratchet up the infamy quotient?
posted by Hypnotic Chick at 11:01 AM on June 23, 2010

The feed just died mid-serve, and now is showing a soccer preview? WTF?
posted by hincandenza at 11:02 AM on June 23, 2010

So awesome.
posted by BeerFilter at 11:03 AM on June 23, 2010

Hah. ESPN just said, "Our World Cup coverage has come and gone, and they're still here."

When this match started, Gen. McChrystal was in charge of the International Forces in Afghanistan.
posted by joe lisboa at 11:03 AM on June 23, 2010 [22 favorites]

Ah, nevermind, you have to make sure you click the right "Watch Live" button.
posted by hincandenza at 11:03 AM on June 23, 2010

Needs more vuvuzela.
posted by homunculus at 11:05 AM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

OMG, the Guardian link is amazing:

The umpire climbs down from his chair and starts mildly slapping the net cord with his right hand. No one knows why.

John Isner winds up for a backhand and misses the ball entirely. No one knows why. What's going on here? Once, long ago, I think that this was a tennis match. I believe it was part of a wider tennis tournament, somewhere in south-west London, and the winner of this match would then go on to face the winner of another match and, if he won that, the winner of another match. And so on until he reached the final and, fingers crossed, he won the title.

That, at least, is what this spectacle on Court 18 used to be; what it started out as. It's not that anymore and hasn't been for a few hours now. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it is long and it's horrifying and it's very long to boot. Is it death? I think it might be death.

42 games all.

posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 11:05 AM on June 23, 2010 [28 favorites]

But Wiki answered my question- indeed it's two games to win, except when 7-6, but the final set has no tie-break so they just keep going.

But it's a Wimbledon quirk (as far as I know), like the required all-white outfits, so the only place it still happens is here.
posted by sallybrown at 11:06 AM on June 23, 2010

During the break, ESPN switched over to the Federer match, and he's in the shit, too.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:08 AM on June 23, 2010

By my reckoning, Mahut has had to serve to stay in the match 39 times.
posted by Electric Dragon at 11:09 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Man, it was looking dicey there for a minute but now we're 43-43 at 15-all.
posted by cortex at 11:09 AM on June 23, 2010

43-43?
posted by joe lisboa at 11:09 AM on June 23, 2010

But Wiki answered my question- indeed it's two games to win, except when 7-6, but the final set has no tie-break so they just keep going.

But it's a Wimbledon quirk (as far as I know), like the required all-white outfits, so the only place it still happens is here.

I thought the no-tiebreak rule was used everywhere for the last set of a match, and according to Wikipedia that's true for all the Slams except the US Open, which will use a tiebreak even in the 5th set.
posted by kmz at 11:10 AM on June 23, 2010

Is it just me or does losing the longest match ever really ratchet up the infamy quotient?

It should make you awesome. You are second only to the guy who won the longest match ever!
posted by DU at 11:12 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

The live feed died for me, but the Wimbledon live scoreboard is still up. It's 43-43. This scoreboard also shows serving speeds. They are still serving fast--120mph or so.

Maybe their legs and reaction time have given out so they can't keep up with each other's serves. Which means they will continue to win every game that they are serving in until....

I don't know--maybe one of them will finally just run out of energy and can't even serve.
posted by eye of newt at 11:12 AM on June 23, 2010

At this point the officials are wondering how to fit a third digit on the Games column on the scoreboard.
posted by Electric Dragon at 11:13 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is all proof that there is an afterlife, that it has really good video games, and that David Foster Wallace has located them.
posted by cortex at 11:13 AM on June 23, 2010 [49 favorites]

Ustream link (Danish?)
posted by mrgrimm at 11:13 AM on June 23, 2010

eye of newt: if you go back to espn3.com, the watch live link is in the right nav column. It's still streaming...
posted by hincandenza at 11:14 AM on June 23, 2010

Am I too cynical to think that they are doing it on purpose? Perhaps a more interesting tale would be that it started that way, but somewhere around the 30-30 both became so equally stubborn with winning this that it added the other 10-10 or more to the proceedings.

Yes, I'm probably overthinking that tennis ball tube.
posted by Iosephus at 11:15 AM on June 23, 2010

This is all proof that there is an afterlife, that it has really good video games, and that David Foster Wallace has located them.

... or in reincarnation, and John Malkovich is the tennis ball.
posted by joe lisboa at 11:16 AM on June 23, 2010

44-44. New balls!
posted by mrgrimm at 11:16 AM on June 23, 2010

44-44
posted by cortex at 11:16 AM on June 23, 2010

Awesome day for sports, and the Guardian blogger is hilarious.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:16 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Another possible feed for those without espn3 access.
alfatv
posted by ecurtz at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2010

Really? That would make sense, wouldn't it? If we weren't all in hell.

Sisyphus as ball boy. I like it.
posted by joe lisboa at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

I'm so happy I'm working at home today. Exciting sports day is exciting! And I CAN NOT fucking believe this match.
posted by rtha at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2010

that David Foster Wallace has located them...

A deadly entertainment?
posted by Babblesort at 11:19 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Guardian blogger guy deserves a Pulitzer or whatever it is they hand out for sports writing.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 11:20 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Am I too cynical to think that they are doing it on purpose?

Yes, they likely feel like hell right now and will wake up tomorrow unable to walk without major pain. Whomever "wins" will likely be wiped out and in bad shape for the rest of this year's tournament.

I thought the no-tiebreak rule was used everywhere for the last set of a match, and according to Wikipedia that's true for all the Slams except the US Open, which will use a tiebreak even in the 5th set.

Yikes, my bad! I wonder why this doesn't happen more often?
posted by sallybrown at 11:20 AM on June 23, 2010

Isner's got more aces then a fucking Kenny Rogers tribute album.
posted by cortex at 11:20 AM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

Oh, man this is insane. I traded in World Cup watching for Wimbledon watching on Monday, and I'm glad I did (I felt like I was cheating on my first love of tennis otherwise). I wish someone would just take some sort of crazy chance to break.
posted by bluefly at 11:20 AM on June 23, 2010

Whomever "wins" will likely be wiped out and in bad shape for the rest of this year's tournament.

That's what makes this thing so curious for me. It's not like either of them has a chance of winning the whole tourney. It's just history and bragging rights -- and pride in not being a quitter.
posted by bluefly at 11:22 AM on June 23, 2010

45-45
posted by Navelgazer at 11:23 AM on June 23, 2010

This is going to become a Balloon Boy thread, where those who are watching the news post updates in-thread, and discusions swirl and eddy around the tidbits of news. Some will follow the thread all day, while others will pop in sporadically. When the game ends, all those who took part in the thread will breath a sigh of relief and contentment, and then someone will pop in to say "you're all nuts, it was just a game, and not even the last in the series," making those who were caught up in the thread question their day. At least it can't be debunked as a hoax, so there won't be the feeling of remorse at being duped into excitement for a day.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:23 AM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

Holy balls.
posted by Jofus at 11:24 AM on June 23, 2010

filthy light thief, what you're describing is called the modern news cycle.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:24 AM on June 23, 2010

Guardian Live-Blogger deserves some sort of award for sure:

6pm: The score stands at 34-34. In order to stay upright and keep their strength, John Isner and Nicolas Mahut have now started eating members of the audience. They trudge back to the baseline, gnawing on thigh-bones and sucking intestines. They have decided that they will stay on Court 18 until every spectator is eaten. Only then, they say, will they consider ending their contest.
posted by longdaysjourney at 11:24 AM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

Isner is gonna get 100 aces.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:24 AM on June 23, 2010

46-45.

At what point does one of these guys pull a Richie Tenenbaum and just start taking off his shoes and socks while weeping softly at the baseline?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 11:25 AM on June 23, 2010 [10 favorites]

Waiting for that beautiful moment when Mahut breaks Isner ... and Isner immediately breaks back.
posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 11:26 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

making those who were caught up in the thread question their day

I will question the sanity of anyone who's all "Yeah whatever it's a game who cares."
posted by rtha at 11:26 AM on June 23, 2010

http://atdhe.net/20580/watch-wimbledon-mahut-vs-isner
posted by beukeboom at 11:27 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Never was so much urine held by so many for so few.
posted by cortex at 11:27 AM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

"4.05pm: The Isner-Mahut battle is a bizarre mix of the gripping and the deadly dull. It's tennis's equivalent of Waiting For Godot, in which two lowly journeymen comedians are forced to remain on an outside court until hell freezes over and the sun falls from the sky. Isner and Mahut are dying a thousand deaths out there on Court 18 and yet nobody cares, because they're watching the football. "

Genius. I really hope the Guardian archives this.
posted by Jilder at 11:27 AM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Vicki Nelson on NPR last year.
posted by djb at 11:28 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

My favourite bit from the Guardian blogger (Xan Brooks):

6.25pm: The scoreboard is barely visible through the grass and weeds and trails of Spanish moss. It shows that John Isner and Nicolas Mahut are locked at 37 games each in the final set.

I'm wondering if maybe an angel will come and set them free. Is this too much to ask? Just one slender angel, with white wings and a wise smile, to tell them that's it's all right, they have suffered enough and that they are now being recalled. The angel could hug them and kiss their brows and invite them to lay their rackets gently on the grass. And then they could all ascend to heaven together. John Isner, Nicolas Mahut and the kind angel that saved them.

posted by severiina at 11:28 AM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Waiting for that beautiful moment when Mahut breaks Isner ... and Isner immediately breaks back.

You'd think so, wouldn't you? Isner has had 3 break points. Mahut has had none. And this SET is just shy of 5 and a half hours now.
posted by norm at 11:29 AM on June 23, 2010

That's what makes this thing so curious for me. It's not like either of them has a chance of winning the whole tourney. It's just history and bragging rights -- and pride in not being a quitter.

I don't know...I think it's that super-athlete thing where you just CAN'T not win until you actually do. I would have given up hours ago and so would most people, but we'd never have made it to Wimbledon in the first place--we'd have been giving up in all the low-level matches and tournaments these guys have been not giving up in for years, just to get to this point.
posted by sallybrown at 11:29 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

7.20pm: And so this match goes on and on, on and on. Somewhere along the way, the players have mislaid their names. The man who was once Mahut is now a string-bag of offal. The man who was Isner is a parched piece of cow-hide.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:29 AM on June 23, 2010

Apparently this thread is where cortex does test runs on his best one-liners... :)
posted by hincandenza at 11:29 AM on June 23, 2010

I'm fairly certain neither of the players are thinking straight after well over seven hours of play. It's probably all muscle memory at this point.
posted by Jilder at 11:30 AM on June 23, 2010

46-46
posted by cortex at 11:30 AM on June 23, 2010

Wait, is there a chance that the game could be called because of darkness ... Again?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:31 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's been since what, 32-31 since that last match point (a double match point even).

Thanks djb! I knew I heard a story like that recently, but couldn't remember enough details to find it.

I don't have ESPN3 here, so I've been listening to a British radio feed plus looking at random foreign video streams. It's interesting how they keep mention how more and more press are crowding into the court.

And they just mention that Isnor is scheduled to play doubles today...
posted by skynxnex at 11:31 AM on June 23, 2010

filthy light thief, what you're describing is called the modern news cycle.

Yes, but MetaFilter doesn't usually follow stories live, but when there is a defined story, even if it's not a complete story. There are few "live update" threads in MeFi history, which is generally considered a good thing (though the complaint in the Balloon Boy / Box Boy MeTa was that the story was a non-story, just a lot of news hype around something that was as Matt put it: "rare & crazy enough that it deserves mention").
posted by filthy light thief at 11:33 AM on June 23, 2010

Strange day out here at Windswept Meadows.
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:34 AM on June 23, 2010

He was scheduled to play doubles. The match was postponed, presumably because of this nightmare.
posted by norm at 11:36 AM on June 23, 2010

Man, I've had a lot of games against my wife that felt like this one.
posted by COBRA! at 11:36 AM on June 23, 2010

"For a big man he's got very soft hands."

ESPN3 announcers now descending into live slashfic.
posted by cortex at 11:36 AM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

For a big man, he's got very soft hands.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:37 AM on June 23, 2010

Whomever "wins" will likely be wiped out and in bad shape for the rest of this year's tournament.

I guess that's what I meant about pride in not quitting. I have a lot of respect for these guys. It's becoming more and more popular on the tour to position yourself to win a few tournaments a year and not care as much about smaller tournaments or ones you won't win (like some players do with clay-court ones). So you don't put that much effort into matches that have a low return. But these guys are totally putting everything into this one.
posted by bluefly at 11:37 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

"For a big man, he's got very soft hands."

So poetic, ESPN3 announcer!
posted by sallybrown at 11:37 AM on June 23, 2010

Somewhere along the way, the players have mislaid their names. The man who was once Mahut is now a string-bag of offal. The man who was Isner is a parched piece of cow-hide. The surviving members of the audience don't seem to care who wins. They just cheer and applaud whoever looks likely to make a breakthrough and bring this nightmare to a close. Invariably they are disappointed.

Haha, this is pretty much my attitude towards watching most sporting events.
posted by Think_Long at 11:37 AM on June 23, 2010

One thing's for sure: these guys have just upped their endorsement quotient by several thousand percentage points. The only question is which will be the first advertiser to come calling? My guess: either a deodorant company or an energy drink.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:38 AM on June 23, 2010

Hell yeah

47-47

I never want this to end.

Is it weird to anybody else that not every court has Hawk-Eye?
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:38 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Once they've been exhausted and the spears have been put in them, they'll be ritually slaughtered and fed to the poor.

That's how it works, right?
posted by backseatpilot at 11:40 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

7.30pm: Let it end, let it end, it's 46-all. It was funny when it was 16-all and it was creepy when it was 26-all. But this is pure purgatory and there is still no end in sight. John Isner has just struck his 90th ace. Nicolas Mahut, poor, enfeebled Nicolas Mahut, has only hit 72. Maybe we should just decide it on the number of aces struck? Give the game to Isner and then we can all crawl into our graves.

I love the Guardian liveblogger. Poor thing's gone 'round the bend.
posted by zarq at 11:40 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Haven't been watching long, but is the pattern just that whoever is serving wins each game?
posted by yarrow at 11:40 AM on June 23, 2010

.... aaaaand back to the World Cup ....
posted by mrgrimm at 11:40 AM on June 23, 2010

Is it weird to anybody else that not every court has Hawk-Eye?

I loved that first Wimbledon with Hawk-Eye, where everyone almost unconsciously made a "ooooooooooOOOOOO" noise as the ball in the video replay moved closer and closer to the line.
posted by sallybrown at 11:41 AM on June 23, 2010

that David Foster Wallace has located them...

A deadly entertainment?

So after all that messing around with experimental high-concept arthouse stuff, it turns out James O. Incandenza's final film cartridge was nothing but an eternally looping copy of the Wimbledon match that never ended. Kind of arch, even for Wallace, but so it goes.
posted by gompa at 11:41 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

This could be it...!!!!
posted by Windopaene at 11:43 AM on June 23, 2010

...or not....
posted by Windopaene at 11:44 AM on June 23, 2010

It looks like Mahut will pretty soon surpass the previous aces in a match record too. I guess in a match this long, it's pretty much inevitable that a lot of individual match records will be broken, some of them by both contestants.

And I can't believe they're still serving at 120+ MPH. Holy hell.
posted by kmz at 11:44 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm intrigued by Xan Brooks writing. His other pieces are generally short, but there are hints of creative adornment in those news tidbits. Does he have more freedom with live blogging, as there is no editor over his shoulder? I don't imagine this would be allowed on a typical blow-by-blow write-up:

6pm: The score stands at 34-34. In order to stay upright and keep their strength, John Isner and Nicolas Mahut have now started eating members of the audience. They trudge back to the baseline, gnawing on thigh-bones and sucking intestines. They have decided that they will stay on Court 18 until every spectator is eaten. Only then, they say, will they consider ending their contest.

Mind you, I'm not complaining in the least, but I imagine many will. Or are the crotchety letters to the editor primarily from folks who read the print editions, and as such are they kept safe from this lucid dream-writing?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:44 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

A brief recap of June 23 (so far):

Team USA scores a goal in the 91st minute, sending them to the quarters. McChrystal resigns as commander in Afghanistan. We have an epic tennis match, currently sitting at 48-47. And oh yeah, there was an earthquake today centered in Ottawa.

It's only 2:44 p.m. Eastern.

So how many perfect games are going to be pitched in tonight's baseball games? *pops popcorn, gets comfortable*
posted by Exploding Gutbuster at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

48-48
posted by cortex at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2010

Nice work, Windopaene! You jackass.
posted by hincandenza at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2010

is the pattern just that whoever is serving wins each game?

Did we mention that this is Wimbledon? There hasn't even been a break point in 3 weeks or something.

I got all atwitter at 15-30 in the 96th game. Then ace, service winner, forehand winner.

48-48.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2010

After this is over, someone should release the whole 28 gig HD video on bittorrent. I'll put it on one digital picture frame endlessly looping across the room from the 8 hour train ride endlessly looping.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

And some decent rallies too!
posted by kmz at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2010

Are either of them scheduled to play matches after this one?
posted by zarq at 11:45 AM on June 23, 2010

It was mentioned earlier that Isner was scheduled for a doubles match today, but it's been postponed for obvious reasons. However, the winner will play some match after this one for obvious reasons.
posted by hincandenza at 11:46 AM on June 23, 2010

And some decent rallies too!

Yeah, make no mistake: these guys are definitely still trying to win this match. The mental toughness needed to continue on in this match is just unbelievable. A couple of bad-ass mofos, these.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 11:47 AM on June 23, 2010

Would they call due to darkness again? It's nearly 8pm there!
posted by gladly at 11:47 AM on June 23, 2010

Seriously, Xan Brooks is awesome...
posted by setanor at 11:47 AM on June 23, 2010

cortex: I think you need to use some of your image powers for a match like this.

And another ace for Isner to go up 40-30.
posted by skynxnex at 11:47 AM on June 23, 2010

Isner just fucked himself out of an easy point at the net. Man.
posted by cortex at 11:47 AM on June 23, 2010

It it were easy, everyone would do it.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:48 AM on June 23, 2010

By the time this match ends they will have entered in to, and had expired, several endorsement contracts. They will appear on a Wheatie's box, the cereal will be eaten, and the box will yellow in a crate in the attic. Hobbyists will hoard these boxes, pristine and unopened, but the match goes on as the rest of us become beings of pure energy and move to a quark-based economy with no need for collectibles. The impending heat death of the universe will make the energy cost needed to change the score untenable, and our final bit of enthalpy will be consumed to implement a tie-breaking rule at Wimbledon, enshrining this match as the final act of all existence before we fade in to the quantum foam.
posted by 0xFCAF at 11:48 AM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

> Are either of them scheduled to play matches after this one?

No, someone said they're scheduled to be ritually slaughtered and eaten.
posted by rtha at 11:48 AM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Words fail me. Everybody: Read the Guardian live blog if you're not already.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:48 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

They need to start playing music, like in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
posted by sallybrown at 11:50 AM on June 23, 2010

This match is so long, the next World Cup is about to start.

And the score board is still broken, apparently (since it was 47-47).
posted by skynxnex at 11:50 AM on June 23, 2010

Words fail me. Everybody: Read the Guardian live blog if you're not already.

It's the best argument for a blogging Pulitzer that I've seen. Just pure brilliance.
posted by norm at 11:51 AM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

7.45pm: What happens if we steal their rackets? If we steal their rackets, the zombies can no longer hit their aces and thump their backhands and keep us all prisoner on Court 18. I'm shocked that this is only occurring to me now. Will nobody run onto the court and steal their rackets? Are they all too scared of the zombies' clutching claws and gore-stained teeth? Steal their rackets and we can all go home. Who's with me? Steal their rackets and then run for the tube.

It's 48-48. What further incentive do you need?
posted by rtha at 11:51 AM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

Quick Windopaene, jinx this game too! :)
posted by hincandenza at 11:51 AM on June 23, 2010

"....steal their rackets...."

He's brilliant. :D
posted by zarq at 11:53 AM on June 23, 2010

Just when Isner wins a couple of tough points to make it 30-all, with a potential break in sight, Mahut crushes two aces in a row to tie it at 49-49. Wow.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 11:53 AM on June 23, 2010

At some point, they'll swap in a fresh crew of ball-boys.

Because they're wimps.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:53 AM on June 23, 2010

IF this math ever ends I'm sending the guardian dude fan mail.
posted by rtha at 11:53 AM on June 23, 2010

I think the scoreboard is now broken. Probably in the control room there is an alert showing BUFFER OVERFLOW IN ARR_GAMES(C_FINAL).
posted by Electric Dragon at 11:54 AM on June 23, 2010 [8 favorites]

Cool Papa Bell: At some point, they'll swap in a fresh crew of ball-boys.

Because they're wimps.

I think they just did swap them out, leading to a standing ovation from the crowd.
posted by hincandenza at 11:55 AM on June 23, 2010

I can think of worse hells than Court 18 at Wilmbledon.
posted by kyleg at 11:55 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

These guys should become doubles partners. That, or do a buddy cop movie.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:56 AM on June 23, 2010 [20 favorites]

I was about to...
posted by Windopaene at 11:56 AM on June 23, 2010

At the next change-over, Isner is poised to break another record: most bananas eaten over the course of a match (Mats Wilander, 43 bananas, vs. Lendl, '88 Wimbledon).
posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 11:57 AM on June 23, 2010

Like not being able to type correctly, forever.
posted by kyleg at 11:57 AM on June 23, 2010

50 all!
posted by Lemurrhea at 11:58 AM on June 23, 2010

Some say it started as a simple game of tennis. But that was 150 years ago, before we hooked them up to the fusion machines and began generated all the world's electricity off of their True Grit. Perhaps one day the match will end, and human civilization will fall...many believe this to be true, but most folks don't think about it. Me, I'm just glad for my nice cold air conditioning, and this cool tall glass of water filled with sparkling ice.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:58 AM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

Quick, Windopaene!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 11:59 AM on June 23, 2010

Here's a question: how many other games were played today at Wimbledon?
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:00 PM on June 23, 2010

Holy shit break points!!!
posted by tigrefacile at 12:00 PM on June 23, 2010

Fucking hell, it just keeps on going, like one of those seemingly endless concatenations of trains carrying coal across some empty plain whilst you wait, stuck, at a level crossing which just will not fucking stop DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DINGING.

For comparison: the previous longest match at Wimbledon (games played) was Pancho Gonzales against Charlie Pasarell back in (I think) 1969. It flopped to an end after 112 games; now, at 50-50, this final set alone is approaching that record.

Also: this is pretty much a demonstration that tennis players have to be fitter than just about any other sportsmen/women going. Football players regularly look genuinely shattered after 90 minutes; these poor bastards have been at it for – today, anyway – four times that.

Also: yeah, give Xan Brooks a medal. That live blog is fantastic (didn't know he was a tennis man; think he's actually the Guardian's film editor).
posted by Len at 12:00 PM on June 23, 2010

Never mind.
posted by tigrefacile at 12:01 PM on June 23, 2010

So... who wants to see the 101st game of the 5th set continue forever on deuce...
posted by kmz at 12:01 PM on June 23, 2010

Well, those break points were less exciting that I'd hoped.
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:02 PM on June 23, 2010

Or not.
posted by kmz at 12:02 PM on June 23, 2010

If they can hold on for another 20+ games, they will have played the equivalent of two full 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 matches in a row, on the same day. Ugh.
posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 12:02 PM on June 23, 2010

Two break points but Isner holds. Agonizing.
posted by kyleg at 12:02 PM on June 23, 2010

OK, now it's a little much.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:03 PM on June 23, 2010

....and the Wimbledon live-score widget has rolled score over at 50. Now it reads 1-0, Isner.
posted by valkyryn at 12:04 PM on June 23, 2010

omg the cuteness and all-americanness of this kid. I lorve heem.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:04 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Something broke on the live score tracker on the Wimbledon site, awesome.
posted by antifuse at 12:04 PM on June 23, 2010

At some point does it become dangerous for them to keep playing? I know they're extremely fit, but they're not Energizer Bunnies?
posted by sallybrown at 12:05 PM on June 23, 2010

51-51
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 12:06 PM on June 23, 2010

There is a non-zero chance both players hit 100 aces before this thing ends. That is blowing my mind... well, what's left of it after watching this...
posted by hincandenza at 12:06 PM on June 23, 2010

sallybrown - darkness follows.
posted by tigrefacile at 12:07 PM on June 23, 2010

At some point does it become dangerous for them to keep playing?

Athletes exist to perform for my pleasure regardless of the consequences. They will play on.
posted by Think_Long at 12:07 PM on June 23, 2010 [7 favorites]

omg the cuteness and all-americanness of this kid. I lorve heem.

No, he's mine! He helps Rafa feed me grapes while Roger fans me.
posted by sallybrown at 12:07 PM on June 23, 2010

8.05pm: In the stands, a woman is laughing. She laughs long and hard and her laugh is the sort of ghastly yodel you normally hear in antique horror movies about Victorian insane asylums. Will nobody drag her out? Call in the goons in white coats. Get this woman to a lobotomy!

Mahut is serving to make it 51-51. Wouldn't you know it, he does. He makes it to 51-51, finishing up with an ace.
posted by Perplexity at 12:08 PM on June 23, 2010

8.05pm: In the stands, a woman is laughing. She laughs long and hard and her laugh is the sort of ghastly yodel you normally hear in antique horror movies about Victorian insane asylums. Will nobody drag her out? Call in the goons in white coats. Get this woman to a lobotomy!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:08 PM on June 23, 2010

Oops, sorry.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:08 PM on June 23, 2010

....and the Wimbledon live-score widget has rolled score over at 50. Now it reads 1-0, Isner.
posted by valkyryn at 3:04 PM on June 23 [+] [!]

It's the Y2k bug of tennis!
posted by Who_Am_I at 12:08 PM on June 23, 2010

Isner is starting to look like he doesn't want to play. I'm picking Mahut. The French never give up.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:09 PM on June 23, 2010

52-51! It's starting to look like a blowout, folks!
posted by cortex at 12:09 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Heehee:

Don't want to be a dick about it but I did book that court for 7'o'clock.
posted by IanMorr at 12:09 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Isner does look like he's out of steam, while Mahut has a little left.
posted by fleacircus at 12:09 PM on June 23, 2010

If this gets called for darkness, I sincerely hope that tomorrow they start on centre court. They have earned it.
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:10 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm in London (sadly reading about this on my phone rather than watching!) and I would say there is under an hour of sunlight left, did they play for long with floodlights last night?
posted by ellieBOA at 12:10 PM on June 23, 2010

I'm picking Mahut. The French never give up.

Bwahahahahahaha
posted by norm at 12:10 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

I can't get over the ESPN commentators: "Someone will win this... eventually."
posted by alynnk at 12:10 PM on June 23, 2010

Isner's looked like that for the last 40 (or more) games. You can tell he's conserving energy. He knows he just needs to keep holding serve until it's called for darkness - then he'll try to break Mahut tomorrow.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 12:11 PM on June 23, 2010

London sunset is 9:21 tonight.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:11 PM on June 23, 2010

ellieBOA: I'm in London (sadly reading about this on my phone rather than watching!) and I would say there is under an hour of sunlight left, did they play for long with floodlights last night?

Don't worry, before long there'll be an iPhone app just for watching this match.
posted by hincandenza at 12:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

I wanna get John Isner some advil so badly right now.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:12 PM on June 23, 2010

I think they're onto something, here.

Tennis matches should be one set. First one to 50 takes it. You have to win by 2.
posted by papercake at 12:12 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Camera 3, long tired of tennis, moves over to a shot of a plane landing against the dusky orange sky. Hoping to pick up a few extra dollars shooting freelance b-roll, no doubt.
posted by cortex at 12:13 PM on June 23, 2010 [10 favorites]

You know, back in 1914 they said it would all be over by Christmas.
posted by tigrefacile at 12:13 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Mahut has form. He won his qualifier by 24-22 in the final set, beating perennial British no-hoper Alex Bogdanovic.
posted by Electric Dragon at 12:13 PM on June 23, 2010

This is the match that never ends,
yes it goes on and on my friends.....
posted by norm at 12:13 PM on June 23, 2010

Their 47 games away from setting the Wimbledon scoreboard to RESET.
posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 12:14 PM on June 23, 2010

Came here after posting this on Facebook spawned idiotic comments about all tennis matched feeling 8 hours long.

In response to Filthy Light Thief, have a look at the other Guardian liveblogs, the budget and politics ones are sometimes as good as
this one (although generally less surreal!).
posted by ellieBOA at 12:15 PM on June 23, 2010

The match stats on the live score tracker widget are broken as well... The match length is stuck at 174 minutes (it *was* at over 500 previously).
posted by antifuse at 12:16 PM on June 23, 2010

I guess it's passed the stage where they can do a rock-paper-sizzors to see who wins.
posted by digsrus at 12:16 PM on June 23, 2010

Their 47 games away from setting the Wimbledon scoreboard to RESET.

Wake me when it spells BOOBS
posted by Think_Long at 12:16 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

The match has now lasted over 9 hours, and the final set over 6.
posted by Electric Dragon at 12:16 PM on June 23, 2010

Have they beaten Billy Mitchell's record yet?
posted by bondcliff at 12:17 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Ha! People keep updating the "Tennis records relating to aces" page, as new aces are recorded.
posted by hincandenza at 12:17 PM on June 23, 2010

In about 20 minutes, this match will be longer than the theatrical version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. That's endurance.
posted by kyleg at 12:18 PM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

I feel sorry for the guy who has to make the highlight reel.
posted by fleacircus at 12:18 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Aw, I once played The Sims for 12 consecutive hours. This is nothing.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:18 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

They're still playing some exhilarating tennis (on short second serves).
posted by tigrefacile at 12:18 PM on June 23, 2010

Halftime for Ghana / Germany. Anything happening here? No? See you in another 45 minutes, at 68 games all...
posted by ecurtz at 12:19 PM on June 23, 2010

Mahut has just attempted to body slam the court.
posted by cortex at 12:19 PM on June 23, 2010

I guess it's passed the stage where they can do a rock-paper-sizzors to see who wins.

rock-paper-scissor-lizard-spock ftw
posted by ellieBOA at 12:19 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Just for the hell of it, I sent Xan Brooks a thank you email and pointed him at this thread.
posted by zarq at 12:19 PM on June 23, 2010 [7 favorites]

If anybody wants to see, there's a Wimbledon kill screen coming up on Court 1B.
posted by Arch_Stanton at 12:20 PM on June 23, 2010 [19 favorites]

Seriously. Steele yourselves for some kind of epic bro-hug.
posted by butterstick at 12:20 PM on June 23, 2010

53-53
posted by cortex at 12:21 PM on June 23, 2010

Are 6'9" tennis players at this level typical? I tend to think a frame of that size will fatigue at the tendons and joints... this is no 45 minute basketball game, after all.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:21 PM on June 23, 2010

From the BBC liveblog...

From Nick in Irvind via text: "They're putting the Mahut v Isner match on DVD. It'll be a box set mind!"
posted by TwoWordReview at 12:21 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

Ok that point by Mahut to close the 106th game was fantastic.
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:21 PM on June 23, 2010

I think Mahut will win this- he's narrowing the aces gap and looking stronger and more energetic. Isner needs more amphetamines in his bananas.
posted by hincandenza at 12:21 PM on June 23, 2010

Wow. Great half volley to square it at 53. The level these guys can play at after 6+ hours today is amazing.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:22 PM on June 23, 2010

some kind of epic bro-hug

We're all going to feel silly when this turns out to be the setup for a really contrived Icing.
posted by cortex at 12:22 PM on June 23, 2010 [13 favorites]

Following the snarky edits on the wikipedia page is kinda fun. Currently:

As a point of reference 1. Roger Federer started and finished a 4 set victory which included 2 tiebreakers during the 5th set of this match.

2. England fans began and ended their complaints about their footie team despite qualifying for the next round.
posted by googly at 12:22 PM on June 23, 2010

Can't believe Mahut even got to that 'slam'
posted by fleacircus at 12:23 PM on June 23, 2010

I look forward to watching the end of this match when I get home from work, in 2 hours.
posted by antifuse at 12:24 PM on June 23, 2010

I'm afraid Isner is gonna die out there. Up 40-15, but looks like he's quit.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:24 PM on June 23, 2010

Oh God, I have three monitors, one watching the Wimbledon and the other two focused on the current World Cup matches. See I knew this triple head setup would lead to more productivity.
posted by geoff. at 12:24 PM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

Nope.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:24 PM on June 23, 2010

Other things you can do in the time this match has taken:

– work a day's shift and an hour and a half of overtime
– fly from London to LA
– run three or four marathons
– read about half of Infinite Jest
– watch an entire season of Mad Men
posted by Len at 12:25 PM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

There are now TWO potential movies that could be made about a sporting match held today. For that matter, they could somehow combine the two into one bizarre movie and get really avant garde.
posted by norm at 12:25 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

Just submitted his liveblog to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. :)
posted by zarq at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2010

My mom must be having the best nap of her life right now.
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

U-S-A! U-S-A!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2010

This could be it. Peace in our time!
posted by tigrefacile at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2010

C'mon Mahut, don't give up this early!
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2010

This could be it...
posted by reductiondesign at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2010

This could be it!!
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2010

I hope someone orders Xan some supper.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:28 PM on June 23, 2010

JINX
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:28 PM on June 23, 2010

so if I'm not mistaken, soon the final set alone would break the previous record for longest match?
posted by secretseasons at 12:28 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is just goofy. Downright goofy.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 12:29 PM on June 23, 2010

This, it would appear, is not it.
posted by tigrefacile at 12:30 PM on June 23, 2010

sick ace. crowd starts chanting "KILL"
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:30 PM on June 23, 2010

secret seasons – yeah, another six games and they do it; it's gonna happen, I think, though whether it's before bad light stops play I don't know.
posted by Len at 12:30 PM on June 23, 2010

54–54...
posted by sonic meat machine at 12:30 PM on June 23, 2010

The drama of this match will be rivalled only by the inevitable rush on the Porta-potties.
posted by vverse23 at 12:30 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

One of them might need their laundry done soon.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:31 PM on June 23, 2010

Christ, I'd be a bit scared to change my racket.
posted by maxwelton at 12:31 PM on June 23, 2010

Isner just doesn't have any gas left in him.
posted by NationalKato at 12:31 PM on June 23, 2010

Unless the ball is hit straight at him, Isner doesn't even bother moving. Amazing.
posted by Turkey Glue at 12:32 PM on June 23, 2010

Greg Rusedski, BBC commentator, just said "I don't think this match ever wants to end."

Because this match is the Overlook Hotel.
posted by tigrefacile at 12:32 PM on June 23, 2010

I predict that this post scrolls off the front page before the match ends. It seems neither man is going to give.
posted by kyleg at 12:32 PM on June 23, 2010

Are 6'9" tennis players at this level typical? I tend to think a frame of that size will fatigue at the tendons and joints... this is no 45 minute basketball game, after all.

Definitely rare, but there are few other very tall players--Ivo Karlovic (6'10), Juan Martin del Potro (6'6), Sam Querrey (6'6, and Isner's doubles partner), the retired Todd Martin (6'6), Tomas Berdych (6'5), Gael Monfils (6'4). One major advantage is the angle it gives the player for serves--which is part (but only part) of the reason why Isner serves so many aces.
posted by sallybrown at 12:34 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

FINISH HIM!


*sigh*
posted by zarq at 12:34 PM on June 23, 2010

Isner is faltering, he only has 30 or 40 more aces in him, tops.
posted by ecurtz at 12:34 PM on June 23, 2010 [14 favorites]

How come so few unreturned shots count as aces?
posted by reductiondesign at 12:34 PM on June 23, 2010

Two sports that I've spent most of my life avoiding, either actively or passively, and this afternoon while I should be doing other things I'm following news on both obsessively.

Also there's been an earthquake nearby, where there never are earthquakes, and possibly a tornado later.

These are truly the end times.
posted by ardgedee at 12:35 PM on June 23, 2010 [10 favorites]

IT'S KUBRECKIAN!
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:35 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Two sports that I've spent most of my life avoiding, either actively or passively, and this afternoon while I should be doing other things I'm following news on both obsessively.

Also there's been an earthquake nearby, where there never are earthquakes, and possibly a tornado later.

This has been exactly my day.
posted by setanor at 12:36 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

How come so few unreturned shots count as aces?

It's only an ace if it doesn't touch the opponents racket at all. If the opponent gets a racket on the ball but doesn't return it, it's called a service winner.
posted by kmz at 12:36 PM on June 23, 2010

How come so few unreturned shots count as aces?

If the opposing player touches the ball with his racket, it's not an ace.
posted by sallybrown at 12:36 PM on June 23, 2010

reductiondesign, Because for it to be an ace, it cannot touch the other player's racket. As the Tennis records relating to aces page says. Unreturned serves include serves that are hit, but don't make it back over the net.
posted by skynxnex at 12:37 PM on June 23, 2010

Amazingly, Mahut ties the match at 55–55!
posted by sonic meat machine at 12:37 PM on June 23, 2010

I would love it if the live stream would not start shitting its buffer every time the ball moves into play.

55-55
posted by cortex at 12:37 PM on June 23, 2010

I'm talking about when someone makes a serve, the opponent doesn't hit it, but the score doesn't change.

Or am I missing something?
posted by reductiondesign at 12:37 PM on June 23, 2010

That would be a fault, reductiondesign.
posted by sonic meat machine at 12:38 PM on June 23, 2010

I would love it if the live stream would not start shitting its buffer every time the ball moves into play.

This made me wonder, what do you think the percentage of current viewership is compared to expected viewership of this first round match?
posted by setanor at 12:38 PM on June 23, 2010

Breaking: There is no more Pimm's.
posted by BeerFilter at 12:38 PM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

Jesus. This is really kind of boring. Make 'em serve underhanded or something.
posted by I'm Doing the Dishes at 12:38 PM on June 23, 2010

Like Lokai and commissioner Bele, these two are destined to go on battling for eternity.
posted by digsrus at 12:39 PM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

Well, if nothing else, this match will have to give them both a mental boost in long matches later in their career. I remember games where players look tired at 5 sets, these two will know that they can eat those guys for lunch, then dinner, then for three more meals the next day.
posted by dnesan at 12:39 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

That would be a fault, reductiondesign.

It's a feature, not a bug.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:39 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

When was the last time they stopped for a potty break?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:39 PM on June 23, 2010

Breaking: There is no more Pimm's.

Court 18 has been officially descended from purgatory to hell.
posted by Iridic at 12:40 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

110 games. Jesus.
posted by mhoye at 12:40 PM on June 23, 2010

Jesus. This is really kind of boring.
posted by I'm Doing the Dishes

Eponysterical.
posted by NationalKato at 12:40 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

When was the last time they stopped for a potty break?

These guys are sweating so much it'd be a miracle if they could piss at all.
posted by valkyryn at 12:40 PM on June 23, 2010

Who do we think is going to win? The tall guy looks super tired but he serves like a mother.
posted by Aizkolari at 12:41 PM on June 23, 2010

Jesus. This is really kind of boring. Make 'em serve underhanded or something.

A blasphemer and a Philistine!
posted by tigrefacile at 12:41 PM on June 23, 2010

What's the over/under on the standing ovation when (if?) this game ends? I'll set the line at 4 minutes.
posted by dnesan at 12:41 PM on June 23, 2010

Jesus. This is really kind of boring. Make 'em serve underhanded or something.

Like Michael Chang in the French Open!
posted by norm at 12:41 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Breaking: There is no more Pimm's.

You could finish this match quicker by forcing the loser of each game to chug a pint in the brief interlude between games.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:42 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

cortex, the ustream feed, linked above, runs fine, if you don't mind the Danish(?) commentary. When I started watching, it had about 4k viewers. It now has 12200.
posted by SirNovember at 12:42 PM on June 23, 2010

Mahut vs Isner is an anagram of "Humans strive".
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 12:42 PM on June 23, 2010 [35 favorites]

9:30 elapsed ... so far.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:42 PM on June 23, 2010

I've got this match open in Firefox and the Ghana/Germany match open in IE. What a day for sports.
posted by daHIFI at 12:42 PM on June 23, 2010

This can only be settled one way: steel cage.
posted by Exploding Gutbuster at 12:43 PM on June 23, 2010

Holy Christ. they're now at 56 all, so this set will definitely be longer than the previous record-length match.
posted by Len at 12:43 PM on June 23, 2010

In the Netherlands today there are ongoing negotiations to form a new government, Amsterdam is getting a new mayor this evening, and there is an "emergency" (has special rules to be called quickly) debate underway in our Parliament.

This is what my Twitter list solely consisting of NL politicos and political journalists looks like at this moment.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 12:43 PM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

Just joining us, Dasein? Welcome to purgatory hell.

The only thing that could make this end fittingly is if Jim Joyce showed up unexpectedly as line judge and blew a match point call.
posted by hincandenza at 12:43 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Get more global, hincandenza. We need Koman Coulibaly to show up and blow the call.
posted by norm at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2010

There are now TWO potential movies that could be made about a sporting match held today. For that matter, they could somehow combine the two into one bizarre movie and get really avant garde.

ESPN actually did that kind of thing just recently for the day OJ fled back in 1994, highlighting all the other sporting events that happened the same day like the Rangers victory parade and the NBA finals and the World Cup opening. It was a very good documentary.
posted by smackfu at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm just glad the French still have a side to root for.
posted by clearly at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2010

"John!" chants the crowd. "John! John! John!" They're either calling for Isner or calling for a bathroom break, or possibly both. I'm still not convinced they want Isner to win any more than they want Mahut to win. They just want someone to win; anyone to win. They just long to be released and to go back home. Possibly via the bathroom."

poor Xan Brooks, he's now talking about zombies! I hope he gets a respite when the sun goes down (in about 40 minutes!)
posted by vespabelle at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2010

Xan Brooks: Has Roger Federer left the grounds? Perhaps they will munch on him, hounding him down as he runs for his car, disembowelling him in the parking lot and leaving Wimbledon without its reigning champion. Maybe they will even eat the trophy too.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:45 PM on June 23, 2010

The crowd looks utterly delighted. I would be too, I suppose. Always fun to see history.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:45 PM on June 23, 2010

I feel the this match has outlasted even the Guardian blogger's cuteness.
posted by fleacircus at 12:45 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

This is what my Twitter list solely consisting of NL politicos and political journalists looks like at this moment.

They've devolved into babbling nonsense. So sad.
posted by Think_Long at 12:46 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

At least the score keeps ticking over. It's a solid 0-0-0-0 between Australia, Serbia, Ghana & Germany.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:46 PM on June 23, 2010

Metafilter: They just long to be released and to go back home. Possibly via the bathroom.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:46 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

0-0-0-1 now.
posted by clearly at 12:46 PM on June 23, 2010

wait, not any more.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:46 PM on June 23, 2010

More brilliance from Xan Brooks:

8.40pm: It's 56 games all and darkness is falling. This, needless to say, is not a good development, because everybody knows that zombies like the dark. So far in this match they've been comparatively puny and manageable, only eating a few of the spectators in between bashing their serves.

But come night-fall the world is their oyster. They will play on, play on, right through until dawn. Perhaps they will even leave the court during the change-overs to munch on other people. Has Roger Federer left the grounds? Perhaps they will munch on him, hounding him down as he runs for his car, disembowelling him in the parking lot and leaving Wimbledon without its reigning champion. Maybe they will even eat the trophy too.

Growing darker, darker all the while.

posted by Len at 12:46 PM on June 23, 2010

what happens if one of them passes out? does the other guy win by forfeit?

Only if he can get the requisite number of serves over the net...
posted by valkyryn at 12:46 PM on June 23, 2010

Mahut vs Isner is an anagram of "Humans strive".

The more obvious one (without the "vs") is: RISE, HUNT MAN!
posted by mrgrimm at 12:47 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh, and the moon is out. Which one goes werewolf first? My money's on Mahut, he's got a face that's already halfway there ...
posted by Len at 12:47 PM on June 23, 2010

When does the winner play the next round opponent? I bet that person will be one happy dude.
posted by fleacircus at 12:48 PM on June 23, 2010

I don't watch tennis but thanks for the post because this is FUCKING AWESOME!
posted by saul wright at 12:49 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

UbuRoivas, for those who might be PVRing the football, I'm going to ask you not to post updates in the thread, or anywhere else on Metafilter, please.

I hope you're joking. :)
posted by zarq at 12:50 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Well, I'm PVRing the Mahut-Isner match and I plan on watching it when I get home before bed, so...
posted by setanor at 12:50 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

This thread is going to consume my favorite limit for the day.
posted by reductiondesign at 12:50 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

(oh shit i need another N)
posted by mrgrimm at 12:50 PM on June 23, 2010

I continue to misread Mahut as Manhunt. Pervy comprehension problems...
posted by msbutah at 12:51 PM on June 23, 2010

At least in Rollerball they had the grace to kill the opposition quickly with a metal gloved blow to the head.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:51 PM on June 23, 2010

Those sideline kids are going to need tutors.
posted by fleacircus at 12:51 PM on June 23, 2010

I'll tell you one thing, that robo-clone is paying for itself right now.
posted by John Isner at 12:51 PM on June 23, 2010 [12 favorites]

Man, that Xan wasn't kidding about the zombies
posted by lysdexic at 12:51 PM on June 23, 2010

I hope you're joking. :)

Yeah, if you're hoping to refrain from learning news, I'd stay off MetaFilter until you're ready.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:52 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

What happens if they tear up the court? Will it be a clay field then?
posted by lysdexic at 12:52 PM on June 23, 2010

Last set before dark ru serious?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:53 PM on June 23, 2010

UbuRoivas, for those who might be PVRing the football, I'm going to ask you not to post updates in the thread, or anywhere else on Metafilter, please.
posted by Dasein at 2:48 PM on June 23 [+] [!]

Oh, come on. I'm as big a spoiler nazi as exists here, and even I know that it's ridiculous to expect a thread about a live sporting event to avoid spoilers about other contemporaneous live sporting events.
posted by norm at 12:53 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

What, "soccer game at 0-0" counts as an update?

I thought it was just the normal state of things.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:53 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Hey, some people in MeTa were a bit put out the other day by someone (Ubu?) posting the scores in-thread, just looking out for them.

It's a 10 hour match. By the time 5 viewing hours have elapsed, they'll be thankful this thread exists! :D
posted by zarq at 12:53 PM on June 23, 2010

Please God, not deuce.
posted by fleacircus at 12:53 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

This made me wonder, what do you think the percentage of current viewership is compared to expected viewership of this first round match?

Our traffic on that is currently 6x what we got on the earlier Federer match, which tends to be our highest rated Wimbledon event.
posted by butterstick at 12:53 PM on June 23, 2010

Shut up everyone, someone is about to win!
posted by joe lisboa at 12:54 PM on June 23, 2010

... a hamburger.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:54 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Assuming they're watching Wimbledon instead of the WC, of course. AS THEY SHOULD! :D
posted by zarq at 12:54 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

(oh shit i need another N)

let's try again. Mahut-Isner = TIRE, HUMANS!
posted by mrgrimm at 12:54 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

Potty break!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

if by win you mean pee break then yeah
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2010

OMG THE ENTIRE SERBIAN TEAM JUST WALKED OFF THE FIELD IN PROTEST OVER NOT GETTING A THROW-IN!
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2010

Imagine how sore your butt would be after sitting in those stands for that long. Bring me a pillow!
posted by msbutah at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2010

I'm not sure I should thank MetaFilter for bringing me to this historic event, but here I am.
posted by languagehat at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Yay boo yay boo it's a funny thing to do.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2010

espn3 announcers are ridiculous.

"Does it matter at this point who wins or loses?"

Uh, yeah it matters at lot more than it did 9 hours ago.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:56 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Have fans at Wimbledon EVER done the wave before? What is this, Wrigley Field?
posted by hincandenza at 12:56 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

The wave? Who does the wave at a tennis match?
posted by lysdexic at 12:56 PM on June 23, 2010

And now the wave. Way to keep yourselves amused people.
posted by msbutah at 12:56 PM on June 23, 2010

why are there people booing?

I think they were booing those in the stands that were ruining their impromptu 'wave.'
posted by NationalKato at 12:57 PM on June 23, 2010

The crowd is now doing the wave; ESPN3 lingers a few moments on a man in Risky Business sunglasses; booing ensues and then gives way to clapping for no discernible reason.
posted by cortex at 12:57 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

URINE LUCK!

sorry
posted by norm at 12:57 PM on June 23, 2010

Did he just die?
posted by msbutah at 12:58 PM on June 23, 2010

Mahut with more racquet-fu!
posted by fleacircus at 12:58 PM on June 23, 2010

Those new Adidas sport-catheters are going to flyyyyyyyyyyyy off the shelves.
posted by haveanicesummer at 12:58 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

A dive?! What is this, soccer?
posted by joe lisboa at 12:58 PM on June 23, 2010

There goes that patented Mahut "body slam the court" move again.
posted by hincandenza at 12:58 PM on June 23, 2010

I'll bet these guys are going to earn legendary reputations in the bedroom as well. If they can play tennis for this long...
posted by kyleg at 12:58 PM on June 23, 2010

The last "wave" at Wimbledon took place during the third set of Plijken v. Babblethwaite (7-6, 6-3, 6-4) in 1982, but that is considered by sports historians to be a manifestation of public confusion over the Faulkland Islands incident and not, as in this case, one of sheer boredom.
posted by saturday_morning at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

fuck yeah mahut laying out for that shot.

this is beautiful
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010

Mahut's taken more dives than the Italian football team.
posted by cortex at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

There have been -- at this point-- forty two games played SINCE THIS THREAD WAS POSTED. Just thought I should point that out.
posted by norm at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

I have friends texting me begging to keep them informed.
posted by Kattullus at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010

"Okay, you're both winners. Satisfied? No? ...."
posted by grabbingsand at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010

Dammit, my picture keeps freezing during when they start serving.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010

Holy crap! Isner looks punch drunk walking back to the line, yet is still winnign points, and Mahut just dove for the ball.
These guys aren't human, they're cylons.
posted by Dr. Zira at 12:59 PM on June 23, 2010

The crowd is reinventing the entire timeline of sports fandom. Soon, the tomahawk chop. At midnight, the vuvuzela is reinvented.
posted by fleacircus at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2010 [21 favorites]

In case anyone's curious, I compared this to another English tradition.

This match (including the previous sets) has been 10 hours. That is about 3% of the entire running time of ALL Doctor who episodes. Which is 768 episodes long. It's the longest-running sci-fi show ever, spanning more than 30 seasons.

And this one match is a not-insignificant fraction of its running length.

This means that it's longer than Eccleston's career as the Doctor, and is closing in on 1/3rd of Tennant's.
posted by Lemurrhea at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

Did everyone see Isner forget his racket when returning between games?
posted by butterstick at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

ENDLESS BANANA.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Did everyone see Isner forget his racket when returning between games?

I WILL PLAY WITH MY PALMS!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 1:02 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

They've been waving for years now – no evidence, but I blame Cliff Richard.

tennis hooligans?

*chants* "YOU'RE GOING HOME IN A FUCKING AMBULANCE (but we will make sure there are strawberries and cream)"

"WHO'S THE WANKER IN THE STRIPED SHIRT AND THE TIE?"

"THE UMPIRE IS A WANKER (but we'll buy him a glass of Pimms when this damned thing is done)"
posted by Len at 1:02 PM on June 23, 2010

He's eaten about 1/3rd of the bananas on the planet so far, I think.
posted by magstheaxe at 1:02 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Tennis Hooligans from the 2009 Australian Open.
posted by ob1quixote at 1:02 PM on June 23, 2010

I suspect this will end in controversy with a blown line foul call. The face of that foul line person will be on the front of every newspaper tomorrow, with an appropriately scandalous headline from The Sun.
posted by msbutah at 1:03 PM on June 23, 2010

If you think this match is really,really long you've never watched Geoffrey Boycott go into bat.

Boycott made his international debut in a 1964 Test match against Australia.[4][5] He was noted for his ability to occupy the crease—sometimes for a number of days— and became a key feature of England's Test batting line up for many years, although he was less successful in his limited One Day International (ODI) appearances.
posted by MuffinMan at 1:03 PM on June 23, 2010

Poster wrote in comment #3149346">> I WILL PLAY WITH MY PALMS!

No! Not those surprisingly soft, large palms!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:03 PM on June 23, 2010

So whoever wins this keeps the truck?
posted by fleacircus at 1:03 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

damn it, this is tennis, not cricket!
posted by edgeways at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2010

I can't leave work - I might miss something!
posted by backseatpilot at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

I keep losing focus, but do they EVER double-fault?
posted by umberto at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2010

Yeah, ESPN3, this picture in picture thing just doesn't work that well on streaming internet, so please return me to the important game.
posted by graventy at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2010

Somebody needs to make a banana reel. Just nothing but bananas.
posted by cortex at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2010

This is almost as long as it felt like watching Zodiac. Almost.
posted by Skot at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2010

This means that it's longer than Eccleston's career as the Doctor, and is closing in on 1/3rd of Tennant's.

There were 14 episodes of Firefly, totaling approximately 600 minutes. This match is longer than all Firefly episodes put together.
posted by zarq at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

Finally, having an extra computer with a big monitor has worked out in my favor (rather than just giving me more work). I heart ESPN3.
posted by inigo2 at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2010

Does that sound right to you?
posted by fleacircus at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2010

Somebody needs to make a banana reel. Just nothing but bananas.

DO THIS NOW
posted by booknerd at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2010

Holy shit holy shit holy shit this is almost over.
posted by snapped at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2010

Deuce!
posted by graventy at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2010

DEUCE
DEUCE
DEUCE
2 MAN ENTA
1 MAN LIVE
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2010

All of a sudden I don't want it to end...
posted by sallybrown at 1:05 PM on June 23, 2010

This match is lasting longer than John McEnroe's talk show, and is likely being watched by more people as well.
posted by kyleg at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

Also, if you're really worried about seeing the soccer scores, don't go to that link.
posted by inigo2 at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

ruh roh
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

MATCH POINT!!!
posted by Windopaene at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

Ohmigod you guys.....
posted by dnesan at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

DOUBLE FAULT
GOGOGOGO
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

Tenterhooks...
posted by tigrefacile at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

I've never been so excited on a Wednesday!
posted by snapped at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Jesus last match point was 60 games ago.
posted by graventy at 1:06 PM on June 23, 2010

lol ace
posted by Windopaene at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

NO END
posted by a small part of the world at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

DUUUUECE
posted by cortex at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

Well fuck.
posted by tigrefacile at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

Wow.
posted by Sailormom at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

A racquet weakly swatting a yellow ball—forever.
posted by fleacircus at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010 [8 favorites]

hilarious
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

You have got to be kidding me. Mahut just aced Isner at Isner's match point.
posted by Dr. Zira at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

Have fans at Wimbledon EVER done the wave before? What is this, Wrigley Field?

Fun fact: They call it the Mexican wave over there. (Not racist.)
posted by smackfu at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

SON OF A!
posted by papercake at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

ARGH
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

My goodness, now watching paint dry isn't just preferable to a Wimbledon match, it's quicker too.
posted by .kobayashi. at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Yes. Eat that shirt. Eat it. You need the vitamins.
posted by saturday_morning at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010 [7 favorites]

He's eating his shirt!
posted by Lemurrhea at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

Miracle ace.
posted by a small part of the world at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

> This match (including the previous sets) has been 10 hours. That is about 3% of the entire running time of ALL Doctor who episodes. ... This means that it's longer than Eccleston's career as the Doctor, and is closing in on 1/3rd of Tennant's.

You know, I'd point and mock, but none of us can claim to be the better man in this thread any more.
posted by ardgedee at 1:07 PM on June 23, 2010

I was feeling pretty good about that, too.
posted by John Isner at 1:08 PM on June 23, 2010 [7 favorites]

NOOO!
posted by snapped at 1:08 PM on June 23, 2010

You have got to be kidding me.
posted by joe lisboa at 1:08 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

of course of course of course of course
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:08 PM on June 23, 2010

From my Twitter feed:
RT @meandmybigmouth: To evict John Isner call 0878 909123. To evict Nicolas Mahut call 0878 909124. Lines close at midnight. #wimbledon
posted by zarq at 1:08 PM on June 23, 2010

This is madness.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 1:08 PM on June 23, 2010

mahut claiming he cant see

i cant take this
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:08 PM on June 23, 2010

WE WANT MORE
WE WANT MORE
WE WANT MORE
WE WANT MORE
posted by cortex at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

and now the fans are braying for blood?!?
posted by a small part of the world at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

people booing and chanting We Want More need to be sent to the salt mines
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

You want tennis hooligans? YOU GOT 'EM!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

Wish the announcers (on ustream) would stop talking over the players talking with the official
posted by Perplexity at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

French guy's being a pussy...
posted by Windopaene at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

I think I'm starting to understand Hungarian. A few more hours and I'll be composing poetry in it.
posted by languagehat at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is madness
posted by ghharr at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

so, see you all tomorrow?
posted by dnesan at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Please don't make me go back to work without this resolved.
posted by snapped at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

The crowd won't be happy until the gladiators are dead.
posted by graventy at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

Let's do it all again tomorrow, oui?
posted by tigrefacile at 1:09 PM on June 23, 2010

They're stopping it for darkness.
posted by norm at 1:10 PM on June 23, 2010

Követelem, vért.
posted by msbutah at 1:10 PM on June 23, 2010

Are they allowed to concede?
posted by Lemurrhea at 1:10 PM on June 23, 2010

noooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooOOOOOO
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:10 PM on June 23, 2010

Oh come on!
posted by Sailormom at 1:10 PM on June 23, 2010

Poo.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:10 PM on June 23, 2010

Dammit I'm not gonna be home sick tomorrow!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:10 PM on June 23, 2010

I'M NOT DEAD YET
posted by Madamina at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Shit. At least he can finish that banana.
posted by snapped at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010

So, how early do I have to get up tomorrow to see this end abruptly in eight serves?
posted by cortex at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

Put some damn night vision goggles on them.
posted by ecurtz at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

These guys totally planned this whole thing.
posted by vverse23 at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

What a silly reason to stop the match. Get them glow-in-the-dark balls and carry on.
posted by papercake at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Perhaps they just don't want the final stages of their zombie-fication to be seen in public.
posted by a small part of the world at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010

If the crowd had vuvuzelas there is no way they would have dared to leave that court unfinished.
posted by msbutah at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010

Well, this has been a hilarious thread. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow. Good work, everyone!

/buttslap
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

But I'm not ready to back to work, yet!
posted by dirigibleman at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010

This doesn't happen in chess boxing.
posted by fleacircus at 1:11 PM on June 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

This game is going to be played across 3 days. I've had GIRLFRIENDS that lasted less long.
posted by Lemurrhea at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

About an hour ago, I was going to post that I was going to stay home from work to watch the end if it continued tomorrow. But then I realized thanks to the time difference I might just have to set my alarm.

When will they start tomorrow?
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010

see you tomorrow!
posted by mrgrimm at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010

Ok, well, I'll see you all tomorrow, then.
posted by BeerFilter at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010

Did anyone catch Isner's eye-roll at the official who told him the game was getting called off? It was 100% "Pff, whatever Dad, I can't wait to move out so I can stay up late without getting balls for it".
posted by saturday_morning at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010

Thank god for the break.

My dog's neck was getting tired from following the ball.
posted by Muddler at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

They're stopping it for The Darkness.
posted by MuffinMan at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

I hope no one at work has reserved the conference room with the big TV in it tomorrow, because that's where I'm planning to be.
posted by rtha at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010

Whoa, BBC5 announcer just said, "I know how this will offend your American sensibilities because you don't like draws ..." hmm, curious phrasing don't you think.
posted by geoff. at 1:12 PM on June 23, 2010

"For a second day, the match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, the longest tennis match in history, has been suspended because of darkness."*
posted by grabbingsand at 1:13 PM on June 23, 2010

does that count include Serentiy, zarq?

I'll let you know tomorrow. ;)
posted by zarq at 1:13 PM on June 23, 2010

Is it a draw, or are they coming back tomorrow?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:13 PM on June 23, 2010

"We both couldn't agree to play." Atta boy, Isner!
posted by NolanRyanHatesMatches at 1:14 PM on June 23, 2010

They need the time to re-sod the court.
posted by kyleg at 1:14 PM on June 23, 2010

Isner wanted to keep playing! Let's just give him the win for that.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:14 PM on June 23, 2010

OK, I'll cut the guy a bit of slack after playing 10 hours of tennis, but Isner seemed like kind of a douche in that interview.
posted by Exploding Gutbuster at 1:15 PM on June 23, 2010

Is it a draw, or are they coming back tomorrow?

They're coming back, which is why the comment was so strange.
posted by geoff. at 1:15 PM on June 23, 2010

It's odd that Isner seems to want to have continued in that little interview; you'd think he'd want to stop since he didn't get that match point, and come back tomorrow. He's living on borrowed time, was barely moving at the line, so being better rested will help him immensely.

Plus, I'm eager to see both players pass 100 aces. At least the loser, whoever he is, will have that to show for this experience.
posted by hincandenza at 1:15 PM on June 23, 2010

MetaFilter: like fellow coworkers at some assy low wage job
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:15 PM on June 23, 2010

New rule: You are not allowed to pass judgment on a player's personality after a ten-hour tennis match unless you too are coming off of a ten-hour tennis match.
posted by Think_Long at 1:16 PM on June 23, 2010 [17 favorites]

I think that match point was more of a sign that Mahut was slipping, which is why Isner wanted to play on.
posted by fleacircus at 1:17 PM on June 23, 2010

Is it a draw?

They're moving to hockey penalty shots. So far they're tied at 346 apiece in the Garden.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:17 PM on June 23, 2010

Mahut's going to go run a marathon, now. Isner's going to lapse into a coma.
posted by dirigibleman at 1:17 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Not sure when this particular match will start tomorrow, but Wimbledon coverage begins at 11.10am GMT tomorrow on BBC2.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:18 PM on June 23, 2010

Brooks' last two entries:

9.10pm: Is it over? It is not over. For a brief moment back then, I thought it was over. Isner clambers to match point on Mahut's serve. Mahut steps forward and saves it with his 92nd ace. It's 59-59.

Mahut wants to come off now; the light is almost gone. But the official orders the pair to play two more games. "We want more! We want more!" chant the survivors on Court 18. I'm taking this as proof that they have gone insane.

9.12pm: Mahut prevails! Mahut wins! This is not to say he wins the match, of course. Nobody is winning this match; not now and not ever. But he prevails in his complaint and his wish is granted. Play is suspended. They will come back tomorrow and duke it out all over again. The scoreboard will be re-set at 0-0 first set and Isner and Mahut will take it from there.

OK, so they won't do that, exactly. Instead, they will pick it up where they left off, at 59-59 in the final set. Apparently the last set of this match has now lasted longer than any match in tennis history. Can this really be true? Nothing would surprise me anymore.

posted by zarq at 1:18 PM on June 23, 2010

This is madness

Madness?

THIS.

IS.

WIMBLEDON!

/kicks ballboy into bottomless pit.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:19 PM on June 23, 2010 [14 favorites]

So they totally have to get center court tomorrow, don't they? This is the top story at Wimbledon.
posted by hincandenza at 1:20 PM on June 23, 2010

When someone finally wins what are the odds Federer runs on the court crying "eets keeling mee"
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:22 PM on June 23, 2010

Do they want to tie up center court for another ten hours?!
posted by magstheaxe at 1:23 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Where's Bud Selig when you need him?
posted by mullacc at 1:25 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure who else was using this link, but the current image is, all things considered, pretty awesome.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:29 PM on June 23, 2010

Those overhead shots had better show some angry Tennis fans torching police cruisers.

In with a left hook is the Bethnal Green Butcher,
But he's countered on the right by Mick's chain gang fight.
And Liquid Len with his smashed bottle men
Is lobbing Bob the Nob across the gob.
With his kisser in a mess, Bob seems under stress,
But Jones the Jug hits Len right in the mug.
And Harold Demure, who's still not quite sure,
Fires acorns from out of his sling.

posted by Atom Eyes at 1:29 PM on June 23, 2010

back and forth ... forever.
posted by NortonDC at 1:33 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

From Xan Banks last post:

I'm off tomorrow, possibly lying in a ditch somewhere. But the legend that is Paolo Bandino will be here to cover the action.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!

Who and how do we petition, call, e-mail, tweet, etc to demand that Xan return tomorrow?
posted by marsha56 at 1:37 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

This has clearly ruined the tuning of both space and time.
posted by setanor at 1:42 PM on June 23, 2010

I'm off tomorrow, possibly lying in a ditch somewhere.

Oh man, that sucks. His blogging was more entertaining than the actual tennis.
posted by longdaysjourney at 1:45 PM on June 23, 2010

Is anyone else reminded of this?
posted by minifigs at 1:50 PM on June 23, 2010

I'm going to just sit here and keep commenting on the ongoing tennis game in my head.
posted by vverse23 at 1:50 PM on June 23, 2010

Who and how do we petition, call, e-mail, tweet, etc to demand that Xan return tomorrow?

I think Xan deserves a day off after that. Bandini (not Bandino) is a more than capable live blogger.

The best live blog was in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, when Scott Murray had to do the over by over of India v New Zealand, starting early in the morning UK time, and went into a Network-style breakdown.
posted by Electric Dragon at 2:03 PM on June 23, 2010 [5 favorites]

For everyone who says Isner was barely hanging on - for the entire hour I watched, at least, he constantly looked ragged as hell, and yet it was always Mahut playing catchup. I think Isner had just gotten match point and watched this guy take two really crazy, ill advised dives. Also, first to ask for a break is like blood in the water, I'd think.
posted by absalom at 2:04 PM on June 23, 2010

I don't know, I think Xan deserves a break. He's not paid professional tennis wages.
posted by lysdexic at 2:08 PM on June 23, 2010

I don't know, I think Xan deserves a break. He's not paid professional tennis wages.

I vote he should be, and should be declared winner of the match.
posted by setanor at 2:11 PM on June 23, 2010

Wow, longgame is loooooooooooooooooooong.
posted by Pronoiac at 2:13 PM on June 23, 2010

Can pb make this thread magically stay open for as long as this match is going to take, or is that beyond even his powers?

Nothing is beyond is powers. He could even win this game if he wanted to.
posted by rtha at 2:40 PM on June 23, 2010

this thread is closed to new comments












: )
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:56 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

At 59-all, Mahut approached the chair and said simply, "I think we need to stop now."
posted by kbanas at 3:14 PM on June 23, 2010

You know how when you see a crowd of people observing a tennis match, everyone's head goes back and forth with the ball?

I'm imagining the same thing as this thread narrates the action, except people's eyes are going up to the top of the page and down to the bottom, up and down, up and down.

Well can call it "the textis effect" or something.
posted by quin at 3:23 PM on June 23, 2010

Astounding.

Is the game or the thread more of a marathon?
posted by puffl at 4:17 PM on June 23, 2010

WHY IS THIS THREAD SO LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG
posted by tehloki at 4:22 PM on June 23, 2010

Is the game or the thread more of a marathon?

It's funny how our metaphors for "long, grueling physical challenge" fall short here. You could walk 2 marathons in the time it took to *NOT FINISH* this game.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 4:37 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Damn, you walk real fast synaesthetichaze
posted by Think_Long at 4:43 PM on June 23, 2010

Yeah, I guess you're right, that's an unrealistic walking speed. You'd be just on the verge of jogging, super annoying.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 4:48 PM on June 23, 2010

If I'm reading this correctly, the match will resume tomorrow on Court 18, but only after two women's matches that are scheduled to start at 12:00 London time (7:00AM EST). As far as I can tell, regardless of how fast the women's matches finish, the Isner-Mahut match will not start before 15:30 London time (12:30PM EST). So everybody can sleep in, okay? See you tomorrow.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:49 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

D'oh! I totally messed that up. 15:30 London time would be 10:30AM EST. West Coast, set your alarm. East Coast, come on. You should already be up making brekkfast.

/bubbrubb
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:51 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Good thing I'll be up at 7 watching the world cup already!
posted by TwoWordReview at 4:56 PM on June 23, 2010

I'm assuming that's 10:30 am EDT (Eastern Daylight Time).

Which will be 9:30 am CDT (Central Daylight Time) in Minnesota.

Thanks for the FYI AH&WO.
posted by marsha56 at 5:00 PM on June 23, 2010

Learn something new every day. It's EST in the winter and EDT in the summer.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:02 PM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

What's awesome about this is the winner of the match has to play Thiemo de Bakker, who was probably feeling that he'd had a pretty rough time of it after his fifth set that ended 16-14.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 5:16 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Isner hit 98 aces, Mahut 95 — both eclipsing the previous high in a match at any tournament, 78. All the numbers were truly astounding: They played 881 points (Mahut took 452, Isner 429), 612 in the fifth set (315 for Mahut, 297 for Isner).

Jesus.
posted by rtha at 6:24 PM on June 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Well, I'm coming back tomorrow.
posted by norm at 6:33 PM on June 23, 2010

The official writeup says that the match will resume after two other scheduled matches, but not before 3:30 local time.
posted by norm at 6:58 PM on June 23, 2010

So does this mean the tournament waits for them? What if they make it another full day?
posted by me3dia at 7:31 PM on June 23, 2010

I loved this one "interesting Mahut-Isner Stat #72: If you totted up the number of steps the players took while changing ends in the final set, you'd be able to mark out three football pitches, or several times the length of Wales"
posted by Infinite Jest at 3:45 AM on June 24, 2010

Whoa! Has this thread reached record length too? Damn!

History in the making, people. Carry on.
posted by kinnakeet at 6:00 AM on June 24, 2010

> Has this thread reached record length too?

Not even close. Palin threads go into the thousands.
posted by NortonDC at 6:07 AM on June 24, 2010

You could walk 2 marathons in the time it took to *NOT FINISH* this game.

Well... Almost. My walking speed is certainly not 5+ mph. At least not sustainably, for the length of two marathons :)
posted by antifuse at 6:09 AM on June 24, 2010

Has this thread reached record length too?

Not even close. Palin threads go into the thousands.


We could talk about Palin while we wait for the match to resume.

*ducks*
posted by amyms at 6:11 AM on June 24, 2010

Not surprisingly, this match has its own Wikipedia entry now
posted by antifuse at 6:13 AM on June 24, 2010

As a programmer, this is kinda funny to me - somebody didn't do enough edge case testing:

The courtside scoreboard stood still at 47–47 and later went dark. IBM programmers said it was only programmed to go to 47–47 but would be fixed by the next day.[5] The on-line scoreboard at the official website lasted slightly longer: At 50–50 it was reset to 0–0. Users were asked to "please add 50 to the Isner/Mahut game score"

Of course, since this has NEVER HAPPENED IN HISTORY one can understand why they didn't test such extreme cases... But I know a few managers who wouldn't take that as an appropriate excuse.
posted by antifuse at 6:17 AM on June 24, 2010

eh, just blame it on the business analysts. it's not the testers' fault that the scoreboard was specced out incorrectly.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:24 AM on June 24, 2010

Ooooooooh, damn you time difference. I'd hoped to come home from work to find this bitch concluded and a nice bit of liveblogging for my tea.
posted by Jilder at 6:24 AM on June 24, 2010

Mahut returns after a toilet break to anguished cries from spectators who just want to go home and watch The Inspector Lynley Mysteries

Ooh, is that back? I swear it's been like three years since we've had new episodes over here.
posted by norm at 6:26 AM on June 24, 2010

No, they just keep showing the same episode over and over again; like 57 times now.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:31 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hmm, kind of like... kind of like... I'm blanking on an appropriate analogy for something that just keeps being aimlessly repeated with no seeming logic or end.
posted by norm at 6:38 AM on June 24, 2010

the war in Iraq?
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:44 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hmm... as of right now, it's not listed on ESPN3... That will make me sad.
posted by inigo2 at 6:50 AM on June 24, 2010

The courtside scoreboard stood still at 47–47 and later went dark. IBM programmers said it was only programmed to go to 47–47 but would be fixed by the next day.[5] The on-line scoreboard at the official website lasted slightly longer: At 50–50 it was reset to 0–0. Users were asked to "please add 50 to the Isner/Mahut game score".

Can someone explain to me why technologically it would make sense for the scoreboard to do that? I mean, there's not going to be a check in there "If score <= 47, do this, else stop working." What is special about the number 47? (Or, in the online version, the number 50?)
posted by inigo2 at 6:52 AM on June 24, 2010

Actually, the feed is already up. It's on the right hand sidebar, not the main listing.
posted by norm at 6:54 AM on June 24, 2010

Whoa, there it is. Swear it wasn't a minute ago...
Okay, okay, fine, I'll admit it, I never learned to read. I NEVER LEARNED TO READ.
posted by inigo2 at 6:58 AM on June 24, 2010

Can someone explain to me why technologically it would make sense for the scoreboard to do that? I mean, there's not going to be a check in there "If score <>

I can't think of any reason why either of those numbers should have any significance. I can understand if it hit 49, and couldn't roll over to 50 (say, for whatever reason, the 10's column in the games tally could only go up to 4... But there's no reason why it shouldn't be able to go to 48... Or 51 for that matter. Sounds like some arbitrary random limits put in there - it's not even near any powers of 2.
posted by antifuse at 7:01 AM on June 24, 2010

> the war in Iraq?
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:44 AM on June 24 [+] [!]

Hmm... as of right now, it's not listed on ESPN3... That will make me sad.
posted by inigo2 at 9:50 AM on June 24 [+] [!]

The war is on ESPN4. (Unfortunately, they've stopped updating here.)
posted by languagehat at 7:03 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Today's live blog.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:03 AM on June 24, 2010

I'm guessing (and hoping) that this feed works today as well as it worked yesterday. I believe that it is also being broadcast on ESPNU, if anyone gets that.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:06 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Awesome, forgot my /em :/
posted by antifuse at 7:06 AM on June 24, 2010

Awesome, forgot my /em :/

I think that the < in my comment broke it.</small
posted by inigo2 at 7:14 AM on June 24, 2010

Have the match up on ESPN3. I love that the policeman/security guard is doing the wave with the audience while they're waiting for the match to start.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:14 AM on June 24, 2010

In an ideal world, this match would continue to go on all day in the background while I work.
posted by norm at 7:16 AM on June 24, 2010

I was watching the Danish ustream feed yesterday, it was pretty good. Unsure if it'll be working today, it's on commercial right now.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:20 AM on June 24, 2010

In an ideal world, this match would continue to go on all day in the background while I work.

OK, so the question is: can they make it to three figures?
posted by Life at Boulton Wynfevers at 7:21 AM on June 24, 2010

Bah, it's showing soccer. (A)H&(W)O's link seems to be working, though.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:22 AM on June 24, 2010

I see that McEnroe is in the house. What a wanker. He didn't sit through it yesterday, now he's going to come in at the end and say he was there?

OK, so the question is: can they make it to three figures?

Can? Yes. Nothing that happens here will surprise me. But I really do think it will end very quickly today. I'd guess Isner wins, as he looked much more tired to me at the end, yet still was comfortably holding his serve. I think the rest will do him good.
posted by norm at 7:23 AM on June 24, 2010

The courtside scoreboard stood still at 47–47 and later went dark. IBM programmers said it was only programmed to go to 47–47 but would be fixed by the next day.[5] The on-line scoreboard at the official website lasted slightly longer: At 50–50 it was reset to 0–0. Users were asked to "please add 50 to the Isner/Mahut game score"

Yeah, as a programmer that seems utterly bizarre to me too. Unless they're doing some crazy stupid bitpacking for no goddamn good reason. It would probably be worthy of a DailyWTF submission if we knew the real story.
posted by kmz at 7:24 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Love that the ump was greeted with enthusiasm. The man must have a bladder made of steel.
posted by magstheaxe at 7:25 AM on June 24, 2010

I see that the new Guardian blogger has picked up where Xan Brooks left off:

The players' undead corpes are expected on Court 18 at 3.30pm, at which point we'll find out if we're still dealing with old-school shambling zombies or if a night's rest has allowed either has undergone a mid-noughties George Romero make-over, and can now run and scream and batter down doors.

Here's hoping he locates Xan's editor at some point. There's a broken tag in there too.
posted by norm at 7:32 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Alright! Let's get our anticlimax on!
posted by cortex at 7:32 AM on June 24, 2010

They have their games faces on. This could be...interesting.


Or not. Who the hell knows at this point?
posted by magstheaxe at 7:35 AM on June 24, 2010

I reckon Isner'll win'er.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:35 AM on June 24, 2010

"WE WANT MORE" ha ha
posted by mwhybark at 7:35 AM on June 24, 2010

"WE WANT MORE"

Now you're just being ridiculous, folks.
posted by cortex at 7:35 AM on June 24, 2010

I'm going to say Isner in roughly 7.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:36 AM on June 24, 2010

"Previously on Court 18...."
It's like an episode of "Law and Order."
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:36 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

It begins! They don't look as tired as I thought they would.
posted by ellieBOA at 7:36 AM on June 24, 2010

I predict Isner in 107.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:37 AM on June 24, 2010

I simultaneously want it to end in two games and 118 games.
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:37 AM on June 24, 2010

It's like an episode of "Law and Order."

It's been going about as long, too!
posted by norm at 7:38 AM on June 24, 2010

I think this is going to be like auto-racing, where it often comes down to the pit crew. Whichever player had better medical care last night is gonna win.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:38 AM on June 24, 2010

The problem with ab issues in tennis is that you really need those muscles for your serve. So . . . yeah, Isner has this so long as he can hold serve.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:39 AM on June 24, 2010

Ah, they're saying Mahut is having stomach problems.

A few bananas would clear that right up.
posted by gladly at 7:39 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Ah, they're saying Mahut is having stomach problems.

Yes, Mahut's stomach is now demanding $100k per game and its own spinoff with Isner's stomach on Centre Court.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:40 AM on June 24, 2010

Awwww...the announcer says that Andy Riddick brought Isner supper last night. How sweet.
posted by magstheaxe at 7:40 AM on June 24, 2010

Do you think they washed their outfits overnight? Or are they wearing new ones? They look pretty fresh and clean to me, but I wonder if they were superstitiously tempted to wear the same clothes, unwashed, to keep their mojo.
posted by amyms at 7:43 AM on June 24, 2010

I'd prefer it if today's Guardian blogger found his own voice (even if he played it straight) rather then feigning Xan Brooks' zombie-narrative.
posted by secretseasons at 7:44 AM on June 24, 2010

I wonder if Frank Deford now wants takebacks on his NPR commentary the other day in which he talked about how we all need to gather 'round and watch Andy Riddick so we can tell our grandchildren that we saw the last great American tennis player. Something tells me that this Wimbledon will not be remembered for Andy Riddick.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:45 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

...and there's Isner's 100th ace.
posted by norm at 7:46 AM on June 24, 2010

A quick deuce!
Just what Mahut needs.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:46 AM on June 24, 2010

Or Andy Roddick.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:47 AM on June 24, 2010

Andy Riddick? Is that Vin Diesel's tennis playing alter ego?
posted by kmz at 7:48 AM on June 24, 2010

THE CHRONICLES OF TENNIS
posted by cortex at 7:48 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Chronicles of Roddick.
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:48 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

With my last breath I curse cortex!
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:50 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Pitch Black Deuce: The Chronicles of Andy Riddick.
That's why Mahut was so concerned about the darkness yesterday, Natch. Because they mostly come out at night. Mostly.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:50 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

I had Doodle God up in another tab, and thought its music was on ESPN3. I thought it was strange that they were playing background music for a tennis match, but that the theme in the music of something about to happen but never quite resolving was fitting.
posted by booksherpa at 7:51 AM on June 24, 2010

I've been thinking about this match, and it occurs to me... maybe both players on a concious level want to win, but are subconciously vested in keeping this alive since they've already devoted so much time to it. It's like when you get involved in an argument, and you know that you should shut up, but a self destructive part of you just keeps at it because you've already invested so much time.

Good luck to them.
posted by codacorolla at 7:52 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Burhanistan is already wrong.
posted by norm at 7:53 AM on June 24, 2010

C'mon Isner!
posted by papercake at 7:53 AM on June 24, 2010

So if this all ends on a blown line call, will that piss off more or fewer people than the Galarraga call?
posted by jacquilynne at 7:53 AM on June 24, 2010

Oh, man, for a second there it was looking like this would ever end at all ever.
posted by cortex at 7:54 AM on June 24, 2010

Mahut takes up juggling!
posted by cortex at 7:54 AM on June 24, 2010

One more ace, and Mahut will hit 100 too...
posted by cereselle at 7:55 AM on June 24, 2010

I hope the comparisons to this game get more and more ridiculous as the day progresses.

"Number of tennis balls chewed up by dogs in London last year: 1,394. Number of balls chewed up on Court 18 this match: 1,563."

"Combined distance of travel of all the balls in the match so far: London to Minneapolis."
posted by backseatpilot at 7:55 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Can someone explain to me why technologically it would make sense for the scoreboard to do that?

Could be something completely random, like "48" is one pixel too wide for the space on the scoreboard so it errors out in the routine and doesn't print anything.
posted by smackfu at 7:57 AM on June 24, 2010

ISNER POPS IT FOUL DEEP INTO THE RIGHT FIELD BLEACHERS wait which sport is this
posted by cortex at 7:57 AM on June 24, 2010

*yawn* Good morning everyone. Did you get some rest and bananas last night?
posted by msbutah at 7:58 AM on June 24, 2010

I like ESPN's graphic package more than this generic Wimbledon one they are using on ESPN3.
posted by smackfu at 7:59 AM on June 24, 2010

"Number of games won by Federer on his way to the title last year: 159 Number of games in this match so far: 165"

from the Guardian liveblog
posted by secretseasons at 7:59 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Alright Isner, if you break him here I'll have called it.

....haha, yeah right.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:59 AM on June 24, 2010

The amount of potassium in all the bananas eaten so far could blow up a small dog house if mixed with water.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:00 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

They keep saying that Isner is more worn out, but maybe he's partly just conserving energy more? Could be a good approach strategically if this goes long again.
posted by yarrow at 8:01 AM on June 24, 2010

The amount of oxygen used to inflate the tennis balls gone through could allow an adult male to scuba-dive for 2 hours.
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:01 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

100 aces!
posted by cereselle at 8:02 AM on June 24, 2010

...and there's Mahut's 100th ace.
posted by norm at 8:03 AM on June 24, 2010

John Isner is the only thing standing between your dog and homelessness.
posted by cortex at 8:03 AM on June 24, 2010

John Isner is the only thing standing between your dog and homelessness.

If they keep this up, enough MeFites may get in trouble with their bosses that Isner may cause homelessness.
posted by valkyryn at 8:06 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I go for both guys.
posted by Sailormom at 8:06 AM on June 24, 2010

McEnroe decided to join in.

Of course. McEnroe feeds on human suffering.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:06 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I really want to know what colour commentary nonsense they've resorted to in whatever language this feed is in, because I'm 99% sure I just heard the words "stand-up comic".
posted by saturday_morning at 8:07 AM on June 24, 2010

The wear patterns in the grass look like Rorshach tests.
posted by amyms at 8:08 AM on June 24, 2010

The nylon used to string the rackets used in this match would stretch from the Earth to Jupiter. The sweat produced by the players would re-fill the Aral Sea.

Things the players could have done instead: flown from London to Los Angeles. Watched the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Extended Editions). Completed the computer game Portal 4 times over. Done all the Times cryptic crosswords for the entire month of June.
posted by Electric Dragon at 8:09 AM on June 24, 2010

The match continuing indefinitely, people following it like Dead Heads, whole subcultures developing; a middle-aged American "Last Set" enthusiast once named Margaret but now insisting she be called "Love All", wearing a headband improvised from her fanny pack, telling the man from Rolling Stone that "you know it's like, people, they say, oh it's just a tennis match, I've seen tennis matches, but they don't like get it, man, there's something different when you've like bonded with it, you start to really understand how like we're all connected and it's not about Isner or Mahut, they're just prophets, you know, the tennis is really inside all of us all along..."
posted by cortex at 8:10 AM on June 24, 2010 [11 favorites]

I think this is a good analogy for the problems with satellite defense and the like. The race between armor and explosives has never gone well for armor. It's just too easy to blow shit up.

Here, it's just too easy to get a service winner / ace. They're powering these shots at 120 mph. There have been 6 break points in about 130 games. What's to be done?
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:10 AM on June 24, 2010

Laid end-to-end, the discarded banana skins from this match could cause over 40,000 slapstick pratfalls.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:11 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Here, it's just too easy to get a service winner / ace. They're powering these shots at 120 mph. There have been 6 break points in about 130 games. What's to be done?

Learn to return a damn ball?

Of course, I can't serve or return, but one would think that once you're good enough to compete at Wimbledon, you'd have that down by now.
posted by valkyryn at 8:12 AM on June 24, 2010

OK, can someone please have Greg Rusedski (commentating on BBC) put out of my misery?
posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 8:13 AM on June 24, 2010

I'm amazed they can walk around, let alone play tennis. Holy crap.
posted by rtha at 8:14 AM on June 24, 2010

Learn to return a damn ball...

...that travels approx. 60 feet, going 130 mph, at an angle, with spin.
posted by sallybrown at 8:15 AM on June 24, 2010

Come watch it in Hungarian instead of the BBC!
posted by msbutah at 8:15 AM on June 24, 2010

Learn to return a damn ball?

Well yeah, but my point is I wonder if this is just the exemplary situation of a systemic problem in tennis. As players get better training and other improvements, as raquets get better - is it fundamentally easier to play in such a manner that you concentrate on service, waiting for an unforced error to get a break?
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:16 AM on June 24, 2010

Medical breaks will be permitted to upgrade the players at each interval. Soon, cyborg Mahut will be serving at 300mph, but nanotech Isner will zoom across the court on wheels to return the ball. The match will reach its 1000th game, and remain there forever, the last point extended into an infinite rally between two perfect tennis robots.
posted by Electric Dragon at 8:16 AM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

At what point do they start to hold up the rest of the tournament? I mean, they need to know who wins to play the next round, right?
posted by yarrow at 8:16 AM on June 24, 2010

The only player who's ever demonstrated that he could consistently return serves of this quality was Agassi, and he ain't playing no mo'. Seems like these guys are getting a lot of crap for not being very good - on the contrary, to serve this well for three days straight is pretty mindblowing.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:17 AM on June 24, 2010

Submitted for your consideration, an ordinary tennis match...
posted by ecurtz at 8:17 AM on June 24, 2010 [11 favorites]

Why do they focus on the homeliest people in the audience during the breaks? Is this how they stay amused?
posted by msbutah at 8:19 AM on June 24, 2010

Still going. When does this stop being fun and start just being kind of sad?
posted by Life at Boulton Wynfevers at 8:19 AM on June 24, 2010

Lemurrhea: Your comment has been discussed in tennis circles for decades now. Just when everybody thought the sport was ruined and men's tennis points couldn't possibly last more than 4 or 5 strokes, along came Federer who could serve, return, volley - well, someone who could do anything. So the verdict is already in: yes the improved equipment skewed things for awhile but eventually the players caught up.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:19 AM on June 24, 2010

They keep saying that Isner is more worn out, but maybe he's partly just conserving energy more?

I was reading something yesterday (maybe in the liveblog?) saying that Isner looks like that when he's fresh as a daisy, too, so who knows?
posted by antifuse at 8:20 AM on June 24, 2010

Number of senior citizens who will get their walkers upgraded with the discarded balls from this match: 74.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:20 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

When does this stop being fun and start just being kind of sad?

Never?
posted by rtha at 8:20 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Are they still playing on Court 18, or did they get some kind of promotion?
posted by saturday_morning at 8:20 AM on June 24, 2010

(Well, not your comment specifically, of course, but the concern you expressed in your comment.)
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:21 AM on June 24, 2010

Still on 18
posted by msbutah at 8:21 AM on June 24, 2010

Still going. When does this stop being fun and start just being kind of sad?

I think it would be sad if either of them were seriously hurt as a result of this. I have no idea how likely that is.
posted by yarrow at 8:21 AM on June 24, 2010

...that travels approx. 60 feet, going 130 mph, at an angle, with spin.

I'm just sayin'. I couldn't do it, but there are guys at Wimbledon who can. Just not Isner or Mahut.
posted by valkyryn at 8:22 AM on June 24, 2010

From DFW's "Roger Federer as Religious Experience"

By way of illustration, let’s slow things way down. Imagine that you, a tennis player, are standing just behind your deuce corner’s baseline. A ball is served to your forehand — you pivot (or rotate) so that your side is to the ball’s incoming path and start to take your racket back for the forehand return. Keep visualizing up to where you’re about halfway into the stroke’s forward motion; the incoming ball is now just off your front hip, maybe six inches from point of impact. Consider some of the variables involved here. On the vertical plane, angling your racket face just a couple degrees forward or back will create topspin or slice, respectively; keeping it perpendicular will produce a flat, spinless drive. Horizontally, adjusting the racket face ever so slightly to the left or right, and hitting the ball maybe a millisecond early or late, will result in a cross-court versus down-the-line return. Further slight changes in the curves of your groundstroke’s motion and follow-through will help determine how high your return passes over the net, which, together with the speed at which you’re swinging (along with certain characteristics of the spin you impart), will affect how deep or shallow in the opponent’s court your return lands, how high it bounces, etc. These are just the broadest distinctions, of course — like, there’s heavy topspin vs. light topspin, or sharply cross-court vs. only slightly cross-court, etc. There are also the issues of how close you’re allowing the ball to get to your body, what grip you’re using, the extent to which your knees are bent and/or weight’s moving forward, and whether you’re able simultaneously to watch the ball and to see what your opponent’s doing after he serves. These all matter, too. Plus there’s the fact that you’re not putting a static object into motion here but rather reversing the flight and (to a varying extent) spin of a projectile coming toward you — coming, in the case of pro tennis, at speeds that make conscious thought impossible. Mario Ancic’s first serve, for instance, often comes in around 130 m.p.h. Since it’s 78 feet from Ancic’s baseline to yours, that means it takes 0.41 seconds for his serve to reach you. This is less than the time it takes to blink quickly, twice.

(I miss those days of Federer being untouchable and DFW being, you know, alive.)
posted by sallybrown at 8:22 AM on June 24, 2010 [6 favorites]

Medical breaks will be permitted to upgrade the players at each interval. Soon, cyborg Mahut will be serving at 300mph, but nanotech Isner will zoom across the court on wheels to return the ball. The match will reach its 1000th game, and remain there forever, the last point extended into an infinite rally between two perfect tennis robots.

2012: Players allowed to receive cybernetic replacement limbs - but only when original limbs have been lost in genuine accidents.
2013: Sudden plague of tennis pros being caught in threshing machines.
2018: Players banned from receiving nanotech augmentation.
2020: Nanotech augs ban removed.
2030: Last ever win of Wimbledon by un-augmented human.
2045: Wimbledon 2045 cancelled due to ongoing 2044 final between TENNISBOT4000 and Raquet-o-tron 5.0 still drawn at 5832 - 5832.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:23 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Never?

You're right, sorry. I'm back into it now.

I almost lost my faith then. Thanks for calling me back from the abyss!
posted by Life at Boulton Wynfevers at 8:25 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm just sayin'. I couldn't do it, but there are guys at Wimbledon who can. Just not Isner or Mahut.

Eh. Grass as a surface greatly favors servers. The ball skips, doesn't bounce very high - it's very difficult to return. Wimbledon is where you see great servers and great serve and volley-ers do well. That's why it was such a shock when Agassi won - typically baseline guys don't do well here.

Also, you can't return a serve that you can't even touch with your racket. Like I said, give credit to the way these guys are serving, not slagging them for not getting to the returns.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:25 AM on June 24, 2010

give credit to the way these guys are serving, not slagging them for not getting to the returns.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I think this is awesome. I was just pointing out that the reason we're currently at... 65-65... is because neither of them are returning anything.
posted by valkyryn at 8:26 AM on June 24, 2010

I couldn't do it, but there are guys at Wimbledon who can.

Absolutely. I think it's the exhaustion (even after a night's sleep) that's mucking that up for them, not their lack of skill.

(On the other hand, even an in-his-heyday Federer got aced 18 times by Isner, back when Isner made his US Open debut. That serve is brutal.)
posted by sallybrown at 8:26 AM on June 24, 2010

If every ball had been served in the same direction, the combined force of all serves in the match would have changed Earth's day by 0.045 seconds.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:26 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm absolutely gobsmacked that Isner is still in this. His body language, footwork, overall game – nothing says this guy can stay in it. Mahut is mixing up his serve location, changing speeds of his ground strokes, bouncing around on the balls of his feet.

Human drama aside, it does feel like two machines are dueling – we're all just waiting for one to break down.

The men's game of tennis is getting harder to watch with time, especially Wimbeldon. Seems like 85% of points are over within 3 points – the serve has just become so dominant.

Without resorting to Get Off My Lawn Syndrome, I kinda wish they would move back to wooden rackets.
posted by Exploding Gutbuster at 8:27 AM on June 24, 2010

So the verdict is already in: yes the improved equipment skewed things for awhile but eventually the players caught up.

Cool, thanks.
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:28 AM on June 24, 2010

I was just pointing out that the reason we're currently at... 65-65... is because neither of them are returning anything.

Fair enough. I think, though, that the reason we're at 65-65 is because both of them are serving out of their heads. Two sides of the same coin.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:28 AM on June 24, 2010

My prediction is that this ends in some kind of dramatic fashion--someone getting injured or a crazed fan stabbing someone or Mahut exploding with maggots or something
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:29 AM on June 24, 2010

I would prefer to hear THIS IS THE SONG THAT NEVER ENDS, YES IT GOES ON AND ON MY FRIENDS etc.
posted by sallybrown at 8:30 AM on June 24, 2010

Now, now, perfectly symmetrical tennis never solved anything!
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:30 AM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

The total number of aces in this match could be used to win over 50 games of poker.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:32 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I've decided that Isner is doing the tennis equivalent of a rope-a-dope. He just looks like that in order to lull his opponents into a false sense of security.

Mahut is having none of it, of course.
posted by magstheaxe at 8:33 AM on June 24, 2010

Thank god watching this on ESPN3 means no inane commentary by Tracy Austin.
posted by sallybrown at 8:33 AM on June 24, 2010

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:34 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I want to see each one win 100 games. There, I said it. Entertain me, tennis monkeys! 43 games to go!
posted by cereselle at 8:34 AM on June 24, 2010

WHAT THE FUCK FEED

COME BACK

I NEED YOU
posted by cortex at 8:35 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

And if I could do math, I'd have said 86 games to go!
posted by cereselle at 8:35 AM on June 24, 2010

The number of ball boys used in this match would have cost the Catholic Church over $750 million in civil damages.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:36 AM on June 24, 2010 [5 favorites]

NOOOOOO HUNGARIAN FEED IS NOW COMMERCIALS .... MUST BUY KIA
posted by msbutah at 8:36 AM on June 24, 2010

isners serve back up to 130+

this could go forever again
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:36 AM on June 24, 2010

It's like one of those games of ultimate where both teams are too rubbish/tired to string enough passes together to score, and so the point goes on forever. Except the opposite. And with tennis.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:39 AM on June 24, 2010

Just amazing tennis. Tennis is such a mental game. It's really all about getting your head right. I can't believe that Mahut has been able to continue to hold his serve for 63 games (so far) where he was facing elimination . . . at some point you start to doubt yourself, doubt your resolve. But not this guy. Dude is a champion. I want to see him win and pull a Kevin Garnett post-match ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:40 AM on June 24, 2010

omg this COULD BE IT
posted by Perplexity at 8:41 AM on June 24, 2010

uhoh
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:41 AM on June 24, 2010

first time ever 0-30 on break?

isner insta-aces him
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:42 AM on June 24, 2010

135 mph, while down 0-30. Oh Isner's not going down without a fight.
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:42 AM on June 24, 2010

twice
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:42 AM on June 24, 2010

11 hours!
posted by booksherpa at 8:43 AM on June 24, 2010

In the time this match has been going on, I could have written, recorded, and tweeted about thirteen songs on the subject of how long this match has been going on.
posted by cortex at 8:44 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

They should play the first five seconds of Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys on a loop.
posted by minifigs at 8:44 AM on June 24, 2010

This match has been going for 11 hours now. Zombies. Yes. They are zombies.
posted by rtha at 8:44 AM on June 24, 2010

How many comments until this becomes the longest thread on Metafilter ever?
posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 8:45 AM on June 24, 2010

11 hours? Zombies can't do that. Cyborgs can.
posted by a small part of the world at 8:45 AM on June 24, 2010

I got assigned a messy data cleanup and import ticket today at work. I'm done now. I realized that this match is making me feel very productive - I keep making all this progress while these guys don't. So far:

- 2 nights comfy sleep
- 1 bottle tasty wine
- 1 1/2 days work, with several small projects completed
- 1 yummy pizza
- several World of Warcraft achievements
- caught up on bills
- watched "Once" finally.
- did my back stretches 5 times.
- taught a drum lesson.
- had my kids over for a nice visit.
- planned August vacation

And these guys are still where they were when they were 0-0 (expect more famous and with a higher % of their body weight made of bananas).
posted by freecellwizard at 8:45 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

If that commentator says "buck" as a substitute for "100" one more time (eg. "buck thirty five" for the 135 mph serve), I'm going to have to take a cigarette break to calm down.
posted by amyms at 8:46 AM on June 24, 2010

How many comments until this becomes the longest thread on Metafilter ever?

Many. Close to five thousand to go. The game would have to go on for another eleven days at this rate.

It's looking likely, is what I'm saying.
posted by cortex at 8:46 AM on June 24, 2010

How many comments until this becomes the longest thread on Metafilter ever?

A lot.

(I don't know if that's actually the current longest one, but it has to be in top contention.)
posted by kmz at 8:46 AM on June 24, 2010

Wow, there they are again. Is this real? I need more coffee.
posted by homunculus at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

If I could do math, I still would have been wrong. I suck at math.

63 games to go.
posted by cereselle at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

in ~10 mins they will have played through yet another World Cup game.... Perhaps it is all a publicity stunt that will end with the finish of the 1st round of the WC.

See tennis got miffed that WC was getting all the attention so decided to stage this life draining farce to prove it too was exciting... only instead of the tension of a 0-0 draw we'll have an insane score!!!
posted by edgeways at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

Amazing. Mahut has balls of cast iron.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

This is like that time some girl talked me into seeing the Grateful Dead.
posted by malocchio at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

If Isner could put this away, it would mean that the first one to 69 would win. My inner 13-year-old would be ecstatic.
posted by COBRA! at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

Break point!
posted by antifuse at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

Hey, there's an idea. Start playing with cast iron balls. Serve that, mofos!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

OMG MATCH POINT.
posted by cereselle at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

A match point!
posted by norm at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

Match point Isner!!
posted by ellieBOA at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010

amyms picked a bad time to get a cigarette
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:47 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

This could be it!!
posted by rtimmel at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

HE DID IT! OMG!
posted by antifuse at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

ISNER!
posted by VeritableSaintOfBrevity at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

GAME SET MATCH ISNER!!!
posted by ellieBOA at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

Wait, tennis matches can end?
posted by cortex at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

YAY ISNER!
posted by papercake at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

AHHHHHHHHHH *BOOM*
posted by msbutah at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
posted by rtha at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

ISNER WINS!!!
posted by cereselle at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

THAT'S IT! Not with a bang, but a whimper.
posted by norm at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

Game over, man, game over!
posted by Jubal Kessler at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

FINALLY GOSH
posted by tmt at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2010

Well. What the hell am I supposed to do now?
posted by rtha at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Great, back to work now I guess.
posted by antifuse at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Aw, I feel so bad for Mahut.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010

I MISSED IT!
Turn your head away for 2 seconds! Fuccccck.
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010

Absolutely epic. <stands and claps>
posted by Exploding Gutbuster at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010

So, now he has to go play his doubles match??
posted by dpx.mfx at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010

u
s
a
u
s
a
U
S
A
U S A
USAUSA
AND SO FORTH
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010

Speech! Speech!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010

WE WANT MORE
WE WANT MORE

actually, it's cool. Will there be locker-room hijinx?
posted by mwhybark at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by kmz at 8:50 AM on June 24, 2010

Well, that was strangely anti-climactic.
posted by amyms at 8:50 AM on June 24, 2010

If you'll excuse me, I need to go crap a 1:1 scale banana model of myself.
posted by John Isner at 8:50 AM on June 24, 2010 [33 favorites]

I came back from my sushi run just in time.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:50 AM on June 24, 2010

Wow! I wondered when the pattern of Isner pulls ahead-Mahut ties it-Isner pulls ahead would break, and I figured it might be in Isner's favor...
posted by booksherpa at 8:50 AM on June 24, 2010

Well. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

Maybe we could build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh? Why don't we try that?
posted by Electric Dragon at 8:51 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

mahut is devastated

poor bugger
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:51 AM on June 24, 2010

Aw and they get a special present for making Wimbledon a trending topic on Twitter for 3 days.
posted by msbutah at 8:51 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Holy shit, I turned on the live stream at EXACTLY the right time. I am magical and awesome.
posted by elizardbits at 8:52 AM on June 24, 2010

Now what?
posted by Sailormom at 8:52 AM on June 24, 2010

I recommend catching the World Cup Italy / Slovakia game on replay if you missed it, now that this is over.
posted by ecurtz at 8:52 AM on June 24, 2010

agreeing with the prize for the umpire. dude was on point the whole time.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:52 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Huzzah!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:53 AM on June 24, 2010

They're doing some kind of presentation now. What's that all about? (No sound here at work *cough*)
posted by Life at Boulton Wynfevers at 8:53 AM on June 24, 2010

i think mahut is going to die of defeat
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:53 AM on June 24, 2010

So, when's Isner's next game?
posted by jacquilynne at 8:53 AM on June 24, 2010

It's because I finally made Andy McDowell love me for who I really am.

Don't thank me all at once.
posted by longbaugh at 8:53 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Mahut just wants to get out of there.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:53 AM on June 24, 2010

Why are they forcing the poor bastards to stay out on the court for Christmas presents?
posted by a small part of the world at 8:54 AM on June 24, 2010

Mahut does NOT want to talk.
posted by a small part of the world at 8:54 AM on June 24, 2010

Maybe we could build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh? Why don't we try that?

We should get inside. It's getting dark and they mostly come and night. (mostly)
posted by norm at 8:55 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

It was an evenly-matched duel in many respects, but one cannot deny that of the two, Mahut is more French.
posted by cortex at 8:56 AM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

Mahut: We just played the greatest match ever.


debatable but possibly
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:56 AM on June 24, 2010

So did Mahut at least set some records?
posted by rtimmel at 8:56 AM on June 24, 2010

It's one thing to make Mahut talk, another to force him to analyze the match. Leave him alone.
posted by a small part of the world at 8:56 AM on June 24, 2010

That guy should not be taunting the losing zombie. He's gonna get himself bit.
posted by cereselle at 8:56 AM on June 24, 2010

"A true French hero today" -- I think that one hurt
posted by saturday_morning at 8:57 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

AND NOW SOME BOOING
posted by cortex at 8:57 AM on June 24, 2010

Tennis hooligans ftw.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:58 AM on June 24, 2010

Leave them alone!
posted by homunculus at 8:58 AM on June 24, 2010

Oh God, now they're taking pictures? Poor Mahut.
posted by saturday_morning at 8:58 AM on June 24, 2010

BOO LESS TALKY MORE BALL SLAPPY INNIT
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:59 AM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

In those boxes: commemorative brass-wrought collapsible travel vuvuzelas.
posted by cortex at 8:59 AM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

or suicide pills
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:01 AM on June 24, 2010

"And John Isner passes through to the third round of men's singles!"

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
posted by cereselle at 9:01 AM on June 24, 2010

Isner's doubles match starts... in one hour!
posted by norm at 9:02 AM on June 24, 2010

The number of humans eaten during the match could have fed the Donner party for three winters.

OK, I'm done now.
posted by backseatpilot at 9:02 AM on June 24, 2010

"And John Isner passes through to the third round of men's singles!"

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

He's going to get destroyed tomorrow.
posted by ellieBOA at 9:02 AM on June 24, 2010

"Mr. Isner, I'm going to have to let you go"
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:03 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Thank you, ESPN3.com.
posted by I'm Doing the Dishes at 9:03 AM on June 24, 2010

Now both of them get to do all 11 hours of the DVD commentary.
posted by Kinbote at 9:03 AM on June 24, 2010

Okay, can't watch slomo replays of Mahut's soul collapsing on itself. It's been fun!
posted by cortex at 9:08 AM on June 24, 2010

You guys missed it. They gave them all ties.
posted by BeerFilter at 9:09 AM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

What was the crowd booing about when they were doing the presentation?
posted by lucidium at 9:09 AM on June 24, 2010

They both lost. Isner is going to be destroyed for anything else this tournament, and Mahut is out. Poor, poor warriors.
posted by Jilder at 9:09 AM on June 24, 2010

What was the crowd booing about when they were doing the presentation?

Best I can figure is that the folks on the side of the court away from which Isner and Mahut were moved (in order to move them toward the OTHER side of the court, for scoreboard press shots?) were upset by getting the short straw.

Or perhaps had all suddenly wet themselves and were feeling bad about it.
posted by cortex at 9:12 AM on June 24, 2010

My friends already think I'm old-fashioned because I like to listen to baseball on the radio, as opposed to watching it on TV or the internet, whatever will they think if they discover that this thread is how I kept up with a three day tennis match? (Thanks folks!)
posted by 1f2frfbf at 9:14 AM on June 24, 2010

They were booing because it's really poor form to keep Mahut out there after losing like that. Mahut might've gotten a standing ovation if he had just shook his head "no" and walked off the court.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:14 AM on June 24, 2010

At least, I think that's why they were booing. Maybe they weren't booing. Maybe they were going "Mah-hooooooooooooot. Mah-hoooooooooooooooot."
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:16 AM on June 24, 2010

ESPN2 is replaying the end of the match and you can clearly see that Mahut got his stuff and tried to the leave, but the officials stopped him and convinced him to go back out on court for that last bit of pageantry.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:19 AM on June 24, 2010

You know what, this may sound cheesy, but after that match, I think you have to say they both won.
posted by Dasein

Certainly in the fame and name recognition areas they've definitely won. I would be surprised if they didn't get some sponsorship deals out of this that they wouldn't have had otherwise.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:30 AM on June 24, 2010

Hey guys, try and be considerate. Some of us won't watch the rest of this game until we're home from work, refrain from spoilers please. Come On!
posted by Think_Long at 9:30 AM on June 24, 2010

(I was saying Mah-hoooot.)
posted by Navelgazer at 9:39 AM on June 24, 2010

Isner's interview on the TODAY show this morning before playing.
posted by ericb at 9:49 AM on June 24, 2010

Isner: What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every serve was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?
Mahut: That about sums it up for me.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:08 AM on June 24, 2010

Certainly in the fame and name recognition areas they've definitely won. I would be surprised if they didn't get some sponsorship deals out of this that they wouldn't have had otherwise.

ManDelay.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 10:16 AM on June 24, 2010

Holy crap! What an ending! Who would have believed that the Queen would call a draw so that she could "drop the twins off at the loo"?
posted by ColdChef at 10:18 AM on June 24, 2010

I missed it because I had to meet with some clients. Did Godot show up?
posted by Dr. Zira at 10:25 AM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Isner's doubles match, scheduled for right about now, has been postponed until tomorrow.
posted by norm at 10:38 AM on June 24, 2010

11 hours
5 minutes
115 aces

Daaaaaamn.
posted by zarq at 10:49 AM on June 24, 2010

*rubs eyes*

Hey guys, how's the.... FUCK.
posted by fleacircus at 10:51 AM on June 24, 2010

They should take turns driving the Desert Bus for Hope now.
posted by yeti at 10:53 AM on June 24, 2010

Isner's doubles match, scheduled for right about now, has been postponed until tomorrow.

As of right now, Mahut's doubles match is still scheduled for sometime today. He's playing with Clement against Fleming and Skupski.

You can see the upcoming matches here. Mahut's upcoming doubles match is at the very bottom of the page.

Although I wouldn't be surprised if this match is also soon to be canceled.
posted by marsha56 at 10:56 AM on June 24, 2010

I found the ending of Isner/Mahut satisfying, but wish they had answered more questions.
posted by desjardins at 11:11 AM on June 24, 2010 [7 favorites]

I can't believe they're making Mahut play that doubles game. It's listed here as "in progress"???
posted by lris at 12:02 PM on June 24, 2010

Oh, and he's playing on Court 18, no less.
posted by lris at 12:04 PM on June 24, 2010

That's weird- earlier today it listed both his and Isner's double matches as canceled. I guess Mahut went forward with it. Obviously he's got to be the crowd favorite in that one! Maybe they canceled Isner's (or he forfeited?) because he has the singles tournament to still compete in?
posted by hincandenza at 1:01 PM on June 24, 2010

I'm going to keep posting here while either of those guys are still alive. WHO'S WITH ME!?
posted by norm at 1:36 PM on June 24, 2010

I can't believe they're making Mahut play that doubles game. It's listed here as "in progress"???

It's been halted due to darkness, with Mahut and partner just having lost a tiebreak (yeah, says Nic, eff that) to go down 2 sets to love.
posted by norm at 1:39 PM on June 24, 2010

Wimbledon just says no to vuvuzelas

Lame.
posted by homunculus at 1:40 PM on June 24, 2010

Anyone else notice in the related threads the one from 2001 with Serena and Jennifer Capriati? First comment:

I'm watching the match now. Thanks for ruining it for me.

Now that was a spoiler.
posted by norm at 1:41 PM on June 24, 2010

Mahut's doubles match suspended due to darkness.

I think the Guardian blogger was right; the spectacle on Court 18 is Death.
posted by tzikeh at 1:50 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Dammit, norm!
posted by tzikeh at 1:51 PM on June 24, 2010

ESPN reporter Patrick Hruby writes of his attempts to return Isner's serve.
posted by norm at 1:51 PM on June 24, 2010

Wimbledon just says no to vuvuzelas

Lame.

That someone would bring a vuvuzela to Wimbledon anywhere? Yes, yes it is.
posted by inigo2 at 2:06 PM on June 24, 2010

OK, watching the rerun with someone (saw it already - trying to keep mum) but having the freedom to let my attention wander, have been noticing the amazing and ceaseless choreography of the ball girls/boys. It's quite a feat that so much activity is going on all the time but so unobtrusively that you don't really notice it. It's like broadway with wind sprints, what with the posing and the signaling and the dashing and the repositioning. The wiki entry is pretty thin, and I can't find any mention of whether or not they rotated them in and out yesterday, or did two unsung 15-year-olds crouch for 7 hours? Somebody drills the heck out of those kids, that's for sure.
posted by umberto at 3:14 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Umberto: they do switch out the ballboys and ballgirls and other personnel in the background. At least, it was mentioned by the ESPN3 announcers during the match yesterday around 50-49 that they actually swapped out the ballboys and ballgirls.
posted by hincandenza at 4:02 PM on June 24, 2010

From Damon Lindelof's Twitter account:

"I found the ending of Isner/Mahut satisfying, but wish they had answered more questions."
posted by tzikeh at 6:46 PM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

See? Even switching them out was unobtrusive. Good show, youthful robots!
posted by umberto at 5:38 AM on June 25, 2010

Xan Brooks is back at the Guardian live blog. Both Isner and Mahut are playing today according to the schedule.
posted by severiina at 5:39 AM on June 25, 2010

We missed this match because we were out yesterday running errands, but it was THE topic of conversation. Reading this thread was almost as good as watching it live.

I kept thinking about the poor spectators. Can you imagine being the wife or father-- you would have to keep your eye on the ball, and yet somewhere around the 4th or 5th hour I think you would start to go a little insane.....And the potty breaks and the food breaks; it would be so difficult to make the decision to leave for a few minutes knowing that you just might miss the ending.

And I really felt for Mahut's doubles partner. He must have been horrified to see the game go on and on and on, with every serve, every step, every pivot meaning Mahut would be that much more drained and used up.

Isner is a North Carolina boy, so yeah us, I guess. Not only is he 6'9", he is 245 lbs. His poor feet, that's some heavy burden they are having to bear. Let's see...the amount of energy expended in winning this match would power a small African village for a year.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:00 AM on June 25, 2010

Isner is now out. He lost in straight sets to Thiemo de Bakker: 6-0 6-3 6-2. The match lasted just 74 minutes.
posted by Electric Dragon at 6:08 AM on June 25, 2010

How heartbreaking. His poor body wasn't robotic after all.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:25 AM on June 25, 2010

All right, super! Ready to watch Isner's second round matchup!

Isner loses quickly.

SON OF A BITCH!
posted by norm at 7:20 AM on June 25, 2010

Isner pulled out of doubles and is done for this years Wimbledon.

Later today Mahut will (hopefully) finish the doubles match he started yesterday.
posted by severiina at 8:18 AM on June 25, 2010

Long match is long.
posted by Juicy Avenger at 9:00 AM on June 25, 2010