Isner-Mahut Epic Means Much More

John Isner and Nicolas Mahut were relative unknowns in the sporting world. That changed after one epic 11-hour duel for the ages. Yes, it wasn't for the Wimbledon crown, but it was nonetheless special.

Over the course of three days, John Isner and Nicolas Mahut waged the tennis equivalent of a battle to the grave—an epic, seemingly never-ending match that was as remarkable as it was unbelievable. In the end, it was Isner who survived, outlasting Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 after 11 exhausting hours of back-and-forth, don’t blink tennis in the first round of the Wimbledon.

The numbers of this historic record-shattering match (dubbed by ESPN as “The Match That Would Not End”) were staggering and they will, in all likelihood, stand until the end of time:

• 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68
• 11 hours, 5 minutes (spread out over three days)
• 183 total games
• 215 aces (112 for Isner, 103 for Mahut)
• 490 winners (246 for Isner, 244 for Mahut)
• 980 points (502 for Mahut, 478 for Isner)
• I68 consecutive holds

The epic match was an ultimate test of skill and talent, of character and will. It was a trial by fire that revealed so much about Isner, the big-serving American, and just as much as Mahut, the unheralded Frenchman. This match showed that there is more to Isner’s lanky frame and booming serves, that deep down, he is as fierce a competitor as they come, and that he is as gutsy as any man who has ever played on tour. This match showed that behind Mahut’s underwhelming, otherwise unimpressive career is a man who never gives up, a man with a fighting heart that soldiers on and on and on. This match gave fans a full view of both men’s courage, of both men’s desire, of both men’s composure, of both men’s fortitude.

Both Isner and Mahut reminded the world how unbreakable the human spirit can be, how capable the human spirit is to overcome adversity and trials and fatigue and pressure. They reminded us how we all should be: persistent and resilient, tenacious and courageous. What’s more, they showed us that we all can compete at the highest of levels and at the grandest of stages without being jerks, without all the whining and griping, without all the preening and the trash-talking and the showboating. They showed us that we all can compete fiercely and be sportsmen in the end—gracious in defeat and even more gracious in victory.

This clearly was more than an extra long tennis match; this was a dazzling, inspiring display of what the upper bounds of the human body, mind, and spirit can do. This was an ode to what we all can do as human beings and proof that we all can do so much if we are willing to dig deep down.

Rightfully, this historic battle turned these unheralded men into overnight sensations, the darlings of the finely cut grass in the revered courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the stars of ESPN and Sports Illustrated, the new poster boys of professional tennis. Unfortunately, though, the magnitude and significance of this epic match will soon fade, perhaps even faster than many of Isner’s 130-mph aces. In a few days’ time, the novelty and enormity of this match will die down, and people will start talking about other things—the World Cup, the Wimbledon champs, Stephen Strasburg and Ubaldo Jimenez, and the official start of the Summer of LeBron, among others.

When that happens, what these two men accomplished over the course of three surreal days will become a mere footnote to the rich history of tennis, and more than likely, just a bit of trivia for the next generation of tennis players and fans.

It will happen, and it will happen sooner or later. And when it does, it’ll be a shame because both John Isner and Nicolas Mahut deserve to be more than just footnotes to tennis history.