Isner tops Mahut in longest-ever tennis match
Tennis Betting Lines
06/24/2010 - Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Towering American John Isner defeated Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the longest match in tennis history by winning their epic fifth set, 70-68, on Thursday.
A 23rd-seeded Isner needed three days to post an improbable 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-3), 70-68 victory over the qualifier Mahut at the storied All England Club.
The two warriors were tied at 59-59 in the fifth set when play was suspended for a second straight day Wednesday due to insufficient light. They played the first four sets on Tuesday and were all even heading into the fifth on Wednesday.
The marathon of marathon bouts started at 6:13 pm on Tuesday and finally concluded at 4:48 pm on Thursday.
The 6-foot-9 Isner and 6-foot-3 Mahut played fifth-set tennis for more than seven hours on Wednesday in a war of attrition that ultimately lasted a record 11 hours, 5 minutes. They battled, and battled, for 7 hours, 6 minutes alone on Wednesday, and squared off for just under three hours here on Tuesday.
The fifth set took a mind-boggling 8 hours, 11 minutes to complete.
The world No. 19 North Carolina native and former University of Georgia Bulldog Isner finally converted on his fifth match point by swatting a backhand winner past a distraught Mahut on Thursday.
Mahut had to serve 65 times to stay in the match.
The 25-year-old Isner and 28-year-old Mahut set other records like games played in a match (183), games played in a set (138), points in a match (980), combined aces (215), and aces by an individual in a match (112 by Isner). The previous record for games in a match was 112 at Wimbledon in 1969. Isner and Mahut played more games than that in the fifth set alone on Wednesday.
The previous record for aces in a match was 78, set by 6-foot-10 Croat Ivo Karlovic. Both Isner and Mahut eclipsed that mark here on Wednesday. Mahut wound up with 103 aces.
The previous longest-ever match was 6 hours, 33 minutes, set at the 2004 French Open, and the previous record for longest-ever fifth set was a mere 40 games.
Isner and Mahut were honored on the court and received mementos to mark the occasion. Former British star Tim Henman was involved in the ceremony, which ended with the combatants having their picture taken in front on the number-riddled scoreboard on Court 18.
The battle-tested Isner's second-round opponent on Friday will be Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker, who won in five sets here on Wednesday, including a 30-game fifth stanza.
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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with).
Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
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