The insane Isner and Anderson marathon match that put Federer’s slayer into the final

John Isner and Kevin Anderson play the second longest in Wimbledon, and third longest in grand slam, tennis history match in their semifinal epic, which Anderson won, 7-6(6) 6-7(5) 6-7(9) 6-4 26-24.

What is with John Isner? He already held the record for the longest grand slam match ever, a 2010 first-round contest between Isner and Nicholas Mahut that lasted over three days, and with the last set ending 70-68, a match that encompassed a whopping 138 games.

It was so ridiculous that it inspired the equally ridiculous — but extremely hilarious — HBO mockumentary Seven Days in Hell (with Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington and Adam Sandberg in full Andre Agassi hair cray-cray). Did Isner need to top that?

Because that’s what he almost just did, except on a much bigger scale, with a spot in the finals on the line. You can see why he and Kevin Anderson fought as much as they did. The difference between making the semifinals and the finals is over $1M, and would have been Isner’s first grand slam finals appearance and Anderson’s second.

But at one point, you just wanted to scream, someone win already! Please.

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, last year’s U.S. Open finalist, finally prevailed after breaking Isner, but you have to feel for either guy. The American will get to recuperate — Isner’s already pulled out of the Hall of Fame championships in Newport scheduled for next week — but the winner gets a short respite before he has to face either legend Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic. The final match will likely be a third marathon in a row for Anderson, who just famously beat Roger Federer in a five setter that went 11-13 (that’s 24 games!) in the quarters.

How much juice does this guy have? He’s got to seriously be the fittest player on the Tour. Anderson’s stamina is fascinating. His match against Federer lasted over four hours. The one with Isner, six hours and 36 minutes. The last set by itself lasted two and a half hours.

With two such tall pillars playing, the aces were expected. John Isner is 6-foot-10 and Kevin Anderson is 6-foot-8, making their average 6-foot-9, which is even taller than the NBA (6-foot-7). Together they clocked in 102 aces (Isner 53, Anderson 49). John Isner won more winners (129 compared to Anderson’s 118), but made more errors (58 compared to Anderson’s more efficient 24). But it all came down to the break points: Anderson had more chances and took them, converting four of the 11 he earned compared with only two for Isner out of five.

Anderson finally won after 50 games in the last set, but still has to wonder who he will be facing, when the Nadal-Djokovic fascinator (to borrow an English phrase for hats) was suspended, with Djokovic leading after an epic, tight tie-break, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9). The conclusion will be enthralling, giving fans coming to see the women’s final a treat on Saturday. They will get to see legends Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal conclude their semi, with the victor having to turn around and play the final the next day.

I suppose it’s fair that the Djokovic-Nadal match winner has to play three days in a row, evening up the fitness odds for Anderson after his historic match with Isner.

This year’s Wimbledon has certainly had its fair share of surprises.

The men’s semifinal will conclude on Saturday followed by the women’s final, with Serena Williams going for an astounding 24^th grand slam title. Both can be viewed on EPSN and ABC.