Wimbledon 2018: Kevin Anderson Into Final After Second Longest-Ever Grand Slam Singles Match

Kevin Anderson won the second longest ever Grand Slam singles match on Friday, beating John Isner 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (9/11), 6-4, 26-24 to become the first South African man to reach the Wimbledon final for 97 years. It took eighth seed Anderson six hours and 35 minutes to see off Isner in a marathon clash on Centre Court. Isner previously won the longest ever Grand Slam singles match against Nicolas Mahut, lasting 11 hours and five minutes over three days in the 2010 Wimbledon first round. The 32-year-old, the first South African Wimbledon men's finalist since Brian Norton in 1921, faces Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal in Sunday's showpiece.

Highlights Between John Isner vs Kevin Anderson, Wimbledon Men's Singles Semi Final

00:20 IST: Thank you for joining us on our coverage of the first semi final of Wimbledon 2018

Kevin Anderson beats John Isner 7-6,6-7,6-7,6-4,26-24 to enter men's singles final

00:16 IST: Kevin Anderson has finally done it after 6 hours 35 minutes.

00:12 IST: Kevin Anderson finally breaks the serve. It's 25-24 in favour of Anderson. He will now serve for the match. 

This is not a drill. We have a break. Repeat, this is not a drill.

Kevin Anderson gets the breakthrough to lead 25-24, and will now serve for a place in the #Wimbledon final pic.twitter.com/2q5TUHUW91

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

00:09 IST: After 2 hours 47 minutes in the final set we are tied at 24-24.

00:03 IST: Its 23-23 in the final set. What an epic battle! The match between John Isner and Kevin Anderson will surely be in record books for a long time.

23-23. 100 aces between them.

On we go... #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/fMXeX6PUwB

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

23:49 IST: John Isner comes from behind to take the point. We are now 22-21 in the final set with Isner in the lead.

22-21, John Isner.

Follow the action - for as long as it lasts - live

: https://t.co/JAnCt0TODB
: https://t.co/fk7us9oLje pic.twitter.com/w2Rjxe7aOn

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

23:41 IST: The match has now officially crossed six hours mark and we are at 20-20 in the final set.  

23:37 IST: We are at 19-19 in the final set and here's another record for you.

Another record goes to @JohnIsner

We're not sure we see this one being broken for a long time... #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5nxtCROuVl

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

23:27 IST: Kevin Anderson had two break points but Isner comes from behind to take the point. Its 18-17 in the final set at the moment with John Isner in the lead.

Gladiatorial.

Facing two break points, John Isner reels off four straight points to move 18-17 ahead in the final set #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/DFNfPKd1yK

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

23:19 IST: John Isner is leading 17-16 against Kevin Anderson in the final set at the moment. Match duration now stands at 5 hours 40 minutes.

Kevin Anderson vs John Isner. Officially the second longest singles match in Championships history.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/fGGHRQaqz7

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

23:12 IST: The match has gone over five hours thirty minutes now and we are at 15-15 in the final set.

23:08 IST: It is 11-11 in the final set.

It's 11-11 in the final set.

Take a seat, why don't you...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ScA4h2ZYMt

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

22:00 IST: Nothing separates these two in the final set.

21:46 IST: After 24 minutes of game in the fifth set and the game is tied at 5-5.

21:24 IST: Kevin Anderson wins the fourth set 6-4 against John Isner and the battle for a place in the Wimbledon final goes all the way.

Marathon men...@KAndersonATP wins the fourth set 6-4 against John Isner and the battle for a place in the #Wimbledon final goes all the way... pic.twitter.com/MagHg8E5zo

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

21:18 IST: Kevin Anderson pushing for his second win, he leads John Isner 5-4 in the fourth set. Seems like this semi will be a five-setter.

21:10 IST: John Isner immediately replies by winning the game on the Anderson serve. It's level in the fourth set, 3-3.

Breaking back...@JohnIsner immediately replies by winning the game on the Anderson serve. It's level in the fourth set, 3-3#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/37iV9P1KcT

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

21:02 IST: Kevin Anderson breaks John Isner to takes 3-2 lead in the fourth set.

20:39 IST: John Isner takes the third set 7-6(11/9) against South Africa's Kevin Anderson. John Isner leads Kevin Anderson 2-1

Advantage Isner.

The American fends off two set points to take the third tie-break of the match 11-9, moving within one set of the #Wimbledon final pic.twitter.com/P1OkV52Ve7

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

20:16 IST: John Isner pulls one back to draw level at 5-5. Brilliant comeback from Isner.

20:12 IST: After not having a single break of serves for the longest time, we have successive breaks. John Isner breaks Kevin Anderson. Isner still trails Anderson 4-5 in the third set.

20:08 IST: Kevin Anderson break John Isner's serve to take 5-3 lead in the third set. This is the first break of serve of the match, nearly after two and a half hours.

19:40 IST: John Isner draws level as he wins the second set 7-6(7-5). The match is ties at 1-1.

19:20 IST: John Isner leads Kevin Anderson 5-4.

18:54 IST: John Isner leads Kevin Anderson 2-1 in the second game.

18:40 IST: Kevin Anderson wins the first set 7-6(8/6) against John Isner.

18:00 IST: Kevin Anderson leads John Isner 2-1 in the first set.

Lift-off for @KAndersonATP

The South African claims a 63-minute first set 7-6(6) to move one step closer to his first final at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/WicDwgTR40

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2018

17:40 IST: The first semi-final will see Kevin Anderson take on John Isner, while the second semi-final will see Novak Djokovic face Rafael Nadal.

17:30 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of Wimbledon 2018 men's single semi-finals.

Topics mentioned in this article

Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic Tennis Live Blogs Kevin Anderson John Isner