With the tennis world and every athlete around the globe in awe of John Isner and his epic first round Wimbledon match, we decided to ask Brentwood junior tennis players their thoughts on the “longest and greatest tennis match in history”, and recall their own epic struggle.

Isner’s match stretched over a three day period and lasted over 11 hours with a final score of: 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 The fifth set alone lasted 8 hours, 11 minutes.  The 25 year old Isner grew up in North Carolina competing in the same Southern tennis tournaments as these Brentwood junior players, and went on to play for the University of Georgia before turning pro.

Lucy Hosse

Age:  10, rising 5th grader at Scales

Stats:  ranked 8 in Tennessee and top 100 in South in girls 10’s

Thoughts on Isner match: “My mom and sisters started watching the match when I left for camp in the morning.  When I came home around 3 they were STILL watching the match!  I felt sorry for the guy who had to serve every time to stay in the match, that seemed like much more pressure.”

Lucy’s epic match:  “I was 9 when I played the hardest match of my LIFE!  It was in the McCallie tournament in Chattanooga.  My opponent was like 10 years old, and the #2 seed.  The first four games she totally blew me away, but point by point things started going my way.  So I made myself get every ball back until she made the mistake.  It took forever, almost 2 ½ hours, but I won and it was the best feeling ever!”

Stephen Crofford

Age: 19, sophomore at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and teaching pro at Wildwood Tennis Club.

Stats:  Number one doubles at UTC and # 5 singles, top 50 in South in juniors, 10-10 in singles for UTC led team with most wins in the fall and highest winning % in the spring, winner of state open championships in singles and doubles, made dean’s list in the spring and athletic directors list in the fall.

Thoughts on Isner match: “This was the greatest tennis match of all time.  Many may think that this was a great physical match, but it was more than that it may have been the greatest mental struggle of all time in any sport.  After 11 hours and 5 minutes both players are physically spent and are on an equal playing feel so it becomes a mental battle with both players needing to keep up their focus and not letting up because the match would have been over much quicker.  There may only have been one mental error in the final set being the ill advised drop shot that cost Mahut his own serve and the match. 

I ball boyed for John Isner at the Music City Challenger so it was nice to see the improvements to his game since then.  The match being played at Wimbledon made this epic match possible, the average point was 3 strokes and the points were quick and winners easy to come by; at any other venue the match would have been much shorter and less epic since Wimbledon is the greatest location and Grand Slam event.”

Brittany Hopmayer

Age: 16, rising 11th grader at BHS

Stats:  #1 in Tennessee in girls 14’s.  Due to recent back injury Brittany had to quit competing in tournaments, but is a coach at Wildwood Tennis Club.

Thoughts on Isner match:  “I came home from Wildwood to find my mom glaring at the TV.  It was 13 all in the 5th set, so I sat down and glared at the TV till it was 24 all.  I was literally in a panic, so I decided to lay out to calm my nerves and my mom kept me posted.  Three hours later!, yes I was tan, but those guys were still at it!  I kept thinking about the long matches I had, and it made me proud for the ones I pulled out. That match showed me that if you have the heart for the game you’ll never give up.”

Brittany’s epic match:  “I was serving during a high school match in doubles. It was my second serve, but I didn't really need to worry about getting it in because we were winning by a lot.  When I came down on the tennis ball I heard a sudden pop in my back, then the pain came. I had recent back issues that caused me to quit competitive tennis, so I knew this was the end of my favorite sport. I decided that instead of being a wuss and giving up in the match, I would play it out. It was the hardest match of my life because the pain was unbearable and of my emotions. But at least I know that I won my LAST tennis match.”

Austin Chitwood

Age: 13, rising 8th grader at Woodland Middle School

Stats:  Ranked top 20 in Tennessee, #2 singles player for Woodland Middle School tennis team – county champions for the past two years.

Thoughts on Isners match:  “It was truly amazing!  I am very happy that Isner was able to pull through and win.  I know it was tough for him, knowing that he had many match points in the 5th set that he wasn't able to close out.  But he had the mental toughness and athletic ability to win the match.”

Austin’s epic match:  “My longest match that I have played was at Maryland Farms and lasted 3 1/2 hours.  I won the match 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.  When I was done with that match, I was dead tired, so I can’t imagine how Isner must have felt after 11 hours of play.  In the qualifier, I lost first round against a good player from Knoxville where the 3rd set score was 10-8, I went on to win a couple of back draw matches, but I also know the hurt like Manhut feels to lose after you have fought so hard.”