The intense Wimbledon semifinal between Kevin Anderson and John Isner was the standout match of 2018 in the tennis world, serving as a poignant reminder that the journey to tennis greatness is often more challenging and unpredictable than expected.
The similarities between the two players and their paths to success are intriguing, with the towering duo providing reassurance and support for each other. Anderson, aged 32 and standing at 6-foot-8, played three seasons of college tennis at Illinois, while 33-year-old Isner, towering at 6-foot-10, competed for four years at Georgia. Both players broke into the top 10 rankings by the end of the year and made their debut appearances at the ATP Finals. Anderson finished the year ranked No. 6, with Isner following closely at No. 10.
It seems fitting that their first head-to-head clash since reaching their current levels was incredibly close. Anderson emerged victorious over Isner with a 26-24 win in the fifth set of their Wimbledon semi-final in July, a match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats and led to Wimbledon introducing a fifth-set tiebreaker rule. The excitement continued into the Australian Open, further highlighting the thrilling nature of their competitions.
“Kevin had an outstanding year,” remarked Isner in a recent conference call. “So did I. It’s great to see us both excel at our ages, having come through the college system. It speaks volumes about college tennis and our professionalism. We’ll keep working hard in the offseason and aim to achieve our best.”
“John is in a good place right now,” shared Macpherson with ESPN.com. “He has gained perspective. He’s not overwhelmed by expectations anymore. In the past, when tennis was his sole focus and he wasn’t performing as well as he wanted, it was stressful. Now, he has a clearer outlook.”
