2018 Wimbledon SF: Kevin Anderson vs. John Isner

[Moxie]

^ I won't bother with the quoting but respond in bullet points, for expediency:

* Anderson wasn't any more self-interested than Isner, and they both called for TBs.
* You say the limit is beyond 26-24. (Translation: 6+ hours.) You also say that Isner/Mahut survived 70-68. I would say, and they have, that they didn't. Isner went down the next round about 1-1-1. And both have said it took them months to recover from that. This is about players' livelihoods. Is it fair to wreck them in one day (or across 3) when it's going to ruin them for many tournaments to come? Especially when it's really not necessary?
* To say that everyone was watching Isner/Anderson is to ignore the fact that there wasn't any other tennis on, and we were basically waiting for the main event. Ask anyone on this forum if they were actually enjoying most of it, after a certain point. (In fact, you can read back over the thread and tell for yourself.) There was no other tennis on offer, and a lot of us had reserved the afternoon to watch tennis. It wasn't compelling after a while...it was dreadful, boring, and everyone wanted it to stop.
* As to tradition and what's interesting to tournament organizers, I'd lay you a wager that this is the day that changes it. People were not happy. And neither were the TV powers that be, I'm guessing.

 

[Moxie]

@mrzz: Please give a read to this article about the long match:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...eak-rule-kevin-anderson-john-isner/784443002/

Even Isner and Anderson were aware that the crowd were tired of them. Someone shouted out, "I came to see Rafa." There were fighting out there, AND they knew there were becoming a bore. The players wanted it finished, the crowd wanted it finished, and we watching on TV had long stopped caring who won. So tell me why, then? Seriously, why?

 

[mrzz]

As I said, I don't consider media pieces to be honest about the subject. If they found one guy wanting the match to finish, they would say the whole stadium wanted. Nobody in the crowd ever booed, people were chanting, applauding, so I simply challenge what the guy is writing.

Obviously people would prefer to see NadalxDjokovic than AndersonxIsner. The problem is that you have people on the stands that came to see the other event to begin with.

And, sorry, I also dispute that people watching on the TV stopped caring who won.

We won't get out of this stale mate, for two reasons:

1) I prefer like that, so that's the personal part.

2) For the "general" argument, again, I feel like the odd marathon on average actually generates interest, and I am pretty sure the tournament directors now that. If all (or most) players really unite against it, if a lot of viewers really become vocal about it (I doubt it), then, ok, there will be an argument. For now it is just propaganda and emotional tirades.

Anyway I know your position, you know mine, let's table this. Hope I can watch the rest of the semi today.

 

[Vince Evert]

ks kate, could you start up a poll here on the subject and merits on final set tiebreaks for Wimbly, Aust and French Opens and also where abouts as the options?
ie 6 games all, 8 games all (which used to be), 12-12 , don't care where as long as there is tiebreaker ?

 

[Vince Evert]

only twice i can recall where a GS championship was decided by tiebreaker, both US Open women's finals in 1985 and 1981 , both Martina Navratilova was runners-up. Is that right ?

 

[kskate2]

ks kate, could you start up a poll here on the subject and merits on final set tiebreaks for Wimbly, Aust and French Opens and also where abouts as the options?
ie 6 games all, 8 games all (which used to be), 12-12 , don't care where as long as there is tiebreaker ?

You can create a poll. Please feel free to do so.

 

[Fiero425]

only twice i can recall where a GS championship was decided by tiebreaker, both US Open women's finals in 1985 and 1981 , both Martina Navratilova was runners-up. Is that right ?

OTTH, Evonne Goolagong Cawley returned after having a child and chronic Achilles tendon injuries to beat Chris Evert Lloyd in straight sets at '80 Wimbledon final; 2nd set a TB! I seem to remember a rain break and it frightened me that the weather would save Chris when Evonne came out there smokin' hot taking the 1st set 6-1! :whistle:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

OTTH, Evonne Goolagong Cawley returned after having a child and chronic Achilles tendon injuries to beat Chris Evert Lloyd in straight sets at '80 Wimbledon final; 2nd set a TB! I seem to remember a rain break and it frightened me that the weather would save Chris when Evonne came out there smokin' hot taking the 1st set 6-1! :whistle:

You are missing the point (as is usually the case). In the second set TB is norm. Only in the deciding set there is no TB in all other slams except USO. So, vince was looking at USO and seeing as to when it was decided by a TB in the 5th set.