For those who watched Isner vs Mahut: some statistics

[tzikeh]

First: if you want to read the best blog about the match, The Guardian's official live sportsblog's coverage of the second day of the match is, in all seriousness (and for seriousness, read fucking hilarity), unbelievably awesome, even if you don't know anything at all about tennis and/or you didn't follow the match. Coverage of the match begins at 4pm (search for 4.05). Alas, the author of the second day's blog was off for the third (final) day, and the blog was not nearly as funny for the end of the match. Warning: do not drink while reading.

A brief snippet:

6pm: The score stands at 34-34. In order to stay upright and keep their strength, John Isner and Nicolas Mahut have now started eating members of the audience. They trudge back to the baseline, gnawing on thigh-bones and sucking intestines.

Stats:

1) At 11 hours and 5 minutes, it was the longest tennis match in recorded history. The previous record was a mere 6 hours and 49 minutes.

2) At 8 hours and 11 minutes, the fifth set was the longest set in recorded history. The set, by itself, was longer than the longest match in history (see #1).

3) There were 183 games played in the match. The previous record was a paltry 83 games.

4) The previous record for aces served in a match was 78. Both Isner and Mahut broke this record (Isner, 112; Mahut, 103).

5) The match was suspended on account of nightfall two days in a row. The second night's suspension was in the middle of the fifth set.


Fun facts:

1) When the number of games in the fifth match reached 47/47, the scoreboard failed and went dark. The IBM programmers in charge of it said it was only built to accommodate 47 games. No one has any idea why that number was chosen. (The programmers fixed it overnight.)

2) When the number of games in the fifth match reached 50/50, the counter on the official Wimbledon website reset to zero. A note was added to the site that said "please add 50 to the Isner/Mahut game score."

3) Approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the match, Mahut began his next match as a doubles player. The match was played on Court 18--the same court where had just lost this three-day match. Due to the length of Mahut's previous match, the doubles match was suspended on account of nightfall.

4) "Isner vs Mahut" is an anagram for "Humans strive."

5) The match was longer than the entire run of Firefly (651 minutes, including the opening and closing credits and the unaired episode).

6) The match was longer than Christopher Eccleston's entire run as The Doctor on Doctor Who (585 minutes).

and finally:

7) At the end of the match, Damon Lindelof tweeted: "I found the ending of Isner/Mahut satisfying, but wish they had answered more questions."

Comments

[laura47.livejournal.com]

1) When the number of games in the fifth match reached 47/47, the scoreboard failed. The IBM programmers in charge of it said it was only built to accommodate 47 games. No one has any idea why that number was chosen.

FORTY SEVEN!!! WOOOO

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

7) At the end of the match, Damon Lindelof tweeted: "I found the ending of Isner/Mahut satisfying, but wish they had answered more questions."

I chuckled but did not spit my drink at the Guardian blog, but this right here, that's fucking funny. :-)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I nearly died of asphyxiation at the blog. Ah, well. But yes, Lindelof really had the topper.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

OMG, the Lindlof tweet kills me! \o/

[isagel.livejournal.com]

That Damon Lindelof tweet is the best thing ever.

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

A belated thank you for the link to the Guardian live blog! It's utterly hilarious, and I don't even watch tennis by choice :)

Also, as I'm currently on my umpteenth rewatch of Firefly, this match being longer than the entire series both amused me and made me sad...

And for once my Blackadder icon is utterly relevant!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

BLACKADDER! (I really need a Blackadder icon or five)

You're welcome for the link! It was too good not to share with everyone, tennis fans or no.