Kohlschreiber triumphs in record-tying late finish
Date published :
03 Sep 2012 - 08:17:52
Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber ousted US ninth seed John Isner on Monday morning in a third-round match that equaled the latest-finishing encounter in US Open history.
Kohlschreiber, the 19th seed, outlasted Isner 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted three hours and 20 minutes and finished at 2:26 a.m. local time (0626GMT).
That equaled the tournament record for the latest finish established in 1993 when Sweden's Mats Wilander eliminated compatriot Mikael Pernfors 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in a second-round match.
The Kohlschreiber-Isner match was the latest-ever to finish at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where late-night finishes have become part of the mystique of the US Open.
The chase to history added a bit of drama to a match that left only the hardiest spectators in the stands.
"It was a great crowd," Kohlschreiber said. "Of course it was very late. Everybody who is here is really a crazy tennis fan. I think we played a great tennis match."
Asked what he wanted to before his fourth-round matchup with Serbian eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic, the German said, "Recover as soon as possible."
