Pics: John Isner and Nicolas Mahmut
A SPORTING ENDEAVOUR THAT TAKES HUMAN VENTURE INTO THE REALM OF SCIENCE FICTION
The astonishing unforeseen marathon tennis session played between John Isner from the United States, and Nicolas Mahut of France over two days at Wimbledon this week should make all athletes realize they are not alone when the suffering of physical and mental hardships is imposed upon them to achieve ssusccess in their chosen sport.
The test of strength, endurance and mental strain borne by these two outstanding lawn tennis athletes is impossible to imagine by another without venturing into the world of fantasy,
There is no way they trained for this almost inhuman assault on their minds and bodies and how they continued to play high grade tennis for 11 hours defies all explanation.
It could be likened to Joe Frazier versus Muhammad Ali in their Rumble in the Jungle except rather than being over the then limit of 15 rounds it was over 75 rounds.
This might give a better understanding of the hardship these two admirable and dedicated young athletes endured.
I presume that during the this marathon session they were monitored by medical advisers but even with this precaution in place it would be better in the future to have in place limits on the amount of high grade tennis allowed to be played each day by individuals, especially on sunny days.
The human body is not built for such assaults to be burdened upon it and while tennis is a fine sport and highly recommended, the players are as vulnerable as any other sportsman to physical and mental lasting harm when taken over the limit.
Will both John Isner and Nicolas Mahut ever be the same again? That’s a question only the highest authority is able to answer with certainty.
Sadly, I have doubts. ~