John Isner Confesses 3-D Tennis Hoax
Games replayed while he and Mahut drank ale
June 25, 2010
Tennis superhero John Isner pulled off a monster Wimbledon hoax by using 3-D movie technology to replay early games of his apparent 70-68 fifth-set marathon with Frenchman Nicolas Mahut for rapt crowds while the two guys swizzled ale in a London pub.
"With the new technology, you don't need the doofus glasses," Isner said. "You can project images anywhere, including Court 18 through ESPN's 3-D channel." He winked. "Nicolas and I didn't set foot on the grass that whole second day! It was virtual, Wii Wii tennis."
Some spectators observed that the two players seemed to play game after game on day two with nearly identical moves: big serves, returns into the net, short rallies with the occasional lob or net rush. That's because they were identical moves, 3-D image clips mixed randomly by computer then projected onto the court with holography.
"We cracked up in the pub with other blokes watching ourselves replay on TV," Isner said. Both players wore wigs so as not to be recognized by the Brits. Isner had to stoop to disguise his 6'9" frame. Andy Roddick was in on the prank and brought junk food to Isner in his room on the second night. "Honestly, I was sloshed by then," Isner said. "The pizza calmed me down."
Isner pointed out that he and Mahut aggravated their tennis elbows by lifting heavy pints of ale all afternoon. "It was epic brew," Isner said. "Nicolas was cool, a good sport about it. He taught me how to say oui when I meet Anna Kournikova. I'd rather play with her."
Today, after losing three quick sets in a row to Thiemo de Bakker of Holland, Isner said, "What can I say? 3-D tennis gives you a bit of a two-day hangover."
—James Dunn
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