SHARE
COPY LINK

WIMBLEDON

‘Economy travel prepared me for marathon match’

Mohamed Lahyani, the umpire overseeing the longest-ever tennis match and which finally came to a close at 70-68 in the final set on Thursday, has said that economy travel was adequate preparation for sitting in his Wimbledon chair.

'Economy travel prepared me for marathon match'
Photo: Alistair Grant/AP/Scanpix

The 44-year-old Swede, who lives in Spain, said his voice was wearing out after 11 hours and five minutes over three days making the calls on the marathon first round match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut.

American Isner beat Frenchman Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/3), 70-68 on Wimbledon’s Court 18.

“I travel economy. Seven hours sitting still on court is nothing,” Lahyani said.

“It has been quite amazing to be involved with such an extraordinary match. I can’t imagine seeing another one like it in my lifetime.”

“I didn’t get a chance to feel tired. I was gripped by the amazing match and my concentration stayed good – I owed that to the players. Their stamina was breath-taking and their behaviour exceptional.

“When you are so focused and every point feels like a match point you just don’t even think about eating or needing the bathroom.”

As a memento, the All England Club presented him with a 10-inch Tipperary crystal bowl to be engraved, a Wimbledon tie and silver Wimbledon cuff-links.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

TENNIS

Federer pockets 100th win at Wimbledon

Roger Federer racked up his 100th match win at Wimbledon on Wednesday as he reached his 13th semifinal at the All England Club and a duel with old rival Rafael Nadal.

Federer pockets 100th win at Wimbledon
Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP
Eight-time champion Federer recovered from losing the opening set to defeat Japan's Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to book his place in the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the 45th time.
   
The 37-year-old is also the oldest man to make the last-four of a major since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.
   
Federer will now face Nadal at Wimbledon for the first time since their epic 2008 final.
   
“We have a lot of information on Rafa and so does he about us. I know people always hype it up in a big way,” said Federer.
   
“They did that again in Paris this year (when Nadal won their semifinal in straight sets). I'd love to play against him here at Wimbledon. 
   
“But I go about it like every other match.”
   
Federer and Nadal have met 39 times in their careers but just three times at Wimbledon.
   
The Swiss star won their first two encounters in the 2006 and 2007 finals before Nadal famously triumphed in 2008 in a five-set epic which is widely regarded as the greatest Slam final ever played.
   
Federer said he was unaware that he had become the first player ever to win 100 matches at the same Slam.
   
“A fan told me congratulations on your hundredth win and I thought, oh yes, you're right!”
   
 
SHOW COMMENTS