Nicolas Mahut donating his artefacts of the longest Tennis match in history
The French Tennis sensation, Nicolas Mahut, played the longest ever match in the history of world tennis stretching from 22nd June – 24th June at the All England Club this year. The match contested on the grass court between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut set the record in terms of the number of games played as well as the time elapsed. Isner in the end triumphed in this historical match with a (6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7), 7–6(3), 70-68), match set victory. However, both the players were awarded with prizes for their participation in the longest match in tennis history. There is no doubt about the fact that both the players came to the limelight after this match and gained public attention irrespective of the final winner.
The shirt as well as the racket used by Nicolas Mahut during this historical match will be exhibited at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The French Tennis ace on Wednesday informed the Associated Press that he will gift the items when he will go to the Newport, Rhode Island museum for the Hall of Fame tournament.
Anne Marie McLaughlin who is the Hall spokeswoman told that there will be a seminar on Saturday prior to the draw function for the only professional grass court championship in North of America. The American tennis ace John Isner along with the French man Nicolas Mahut contested in a record 11 hours, 5 minutes match during the first round at Wimbledon previous week. The match was adjourned on two occasions due to light factor before John Isner’s historical success in the marathon match at the All England Club.
Mahut said, “People now have started to reckon my tennis flair more as a result of the marathon’s match and French people are proud of me”. “The way they respect and honour me has totally changed as a result of a single match”, he added.
During his interview on telephone, mahut said that “people even on the streets greet me”. “However, it is strange for me as I lost the historic match in the end but it’s really sweet as far as my fans are concerned and I respect their love although still feels the agony of defeat”, he added. Isner after the marathon match said that, “Its natural, someone had to ultimately lose as there can’t be two winners for a single match”. And in the end, it was Mahut who ended up losing it.
According to Mahut, “People after the match were seen more engrossed in visiting the historical place at the All England Club rather than talking about the winner or the loser”. “I feel as if I have done something exceptional along with Isner”, he added. John Isner, who won the marathon match, was knocked down in the second round at Wimbledon 2010 and came back to the United States of America and appeared in a couple of interviews later. Mahut, on the other hand, also did several television and newspaper interviews in France. He also met Roselyne Bachelot, his sports minister after his return to his homeland.
Mahut, who is twenty eight years of age, used to watch Pete Sampras since childhood. Sampras ruled the grass court Grand Slam Tournament back in 1990s. Mahut never thought that anything from his personal belongings would be displayed at the Hall of fame where the artefacts of a number of great players including his favourite tennis ace, Pete Sampras are also displayed.
“It’s just a dream come true for me”, said Mahut.
John Isner, on the other hand, who is the winner of the Marathon match, is also funding his signed racket that he used during the match at the All England Club.
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