John Isner Beats Andy Murray In Scintillating Showdown
Wimbledon
June 30, 2022
John Isner did the USA proud with his incredible tennis and humble post-match speech on Centre Court.
He achieved his first win over Andy Murray at the ninth time of asking and played almost perfect tennis to do so.
Earlier Emma Raducanu had also been defeated by a better player on the day, Caroline Garcia.
But it wasn’t a depressing afternoon for the Brits because the occasion was so fantastic.
Novak Djokovic produced a display that had the Serb himself purring with delight as he saw off Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets.
But the Americans really had an evening to remember because their man looked just as silky-skilled as Novak!
John Isner and his classy performance made it a very special day to be a Centre Court Debenture Ticket Holder at Wimbledon 2022.
Murray did all he could and mounted a stirring fightback that had the crowd on their feet as the summer sun set at last.
The match had everything. Wimbledon even had to close the roof before the climax, because the players could hardly see the ball.
Isner held his nerve to close out 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 under the lights.
Murray smashed his racquet angrily at the end because he knew he had blown a great chance for parity.
He had the momentum in the fourth set and could have forced a decider.
But he dabbed a simple volley into the net to gasps of horror in the stands.
As he left Centre Court, he turned and waved, perhaps for a final time.
Murray says he will try to keep going but there is no guarantee his body will last another year for tennis of this stratospheric level.
But it was certainly a dramatic way for the local hero to say goodbye to Wimbledon 2022.
Meanwhile Isner is still in the fight and knew how well he had played.
The tall, big-serving American was previously famous for the longest ever match at Wimbledon, a contest lasting over eleven hours back in 2010.
He said: ‘It’s no secret that I am not a better tennis player than Andy, but I have been a little bit better today. This was one of the biggest wins of my career.
‘I’d put this victory above the match in 2010. To be here on Centre Court with the crowd like this. You were amazing.’
It wasn’t just Isner’s thunderous serve that won him the match. Sumptuous volleying also came down from the tennis gods, for he found a sublime subtlety to go with his power.
Wimbledon 2022 is already producing incredibly special memories and there will be more to come.
In Isner the Americans have a hero to cheer all the way through The Championships.
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