The Wimbledon match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut is so improbable, so thoroughly preposterous, one searches for comparisons. Suffice it to say that the fifth set of last year’s classic Wimbledon final — Roger Federer over Andy Roddick, 16-14 — looks rather paltry just now.<\/p>\n
Try 59-59 in the fifth — and that’s right, it’s still not over.<\/p>\n
Isner and Mahut strolled onto Court 18 this afternoon at the All England Club to resume a first-round match that had been suspended by darkness Tuesday evening, tied at two sets apiece. They spent seven hours and six minutes trying to finish — and failed. Around 9:10 p.m., pretty much the cutoff point for any Wimbledon match, it was suspended once again — tied at two sets apiece.<\/p>\n
In case your eyes glazed over the first time, you read it correctly: 59-59. That doesn’t even register in tennis; it sounds like halftime of an NBA game.<\/p>\n