Isner In Demand After Marathon Match

© Worldwide PantsJohn Isner reads the Top 10 list on the Late Show With David Letterman.

John Isner has had little time to catch his breath since the first Tuesday of Wimbledon, when he began his now historic first-round match against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. Following an 11-hour, five-minute epic that spanned three days, the 25-year-old American has been in high demand off the court.

His publicity tour since arriving in New York City late Saturday night has included appearances on the Late Show With David Letterman, Good Morning America, CNN, and Fox & Friends; an interview with the New York Times for a feature in Wednesday’s paper; and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium.

When asked how he mustered the energy for his numerous appearances in the wake of his marathon match, Isner admitted from his home in Tampa at the end of his three-day media tour, “That’s a good question. I was really, really tired… [But] it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

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Putting his fatigue aside, Isner recounted with disbelief the whirlwind events of the past few days, highlighted by his stop on the David Letterman show where he read the Top 10 list of thoughts that went through his mind during the 11-hour tennis match.

“That was spectacular,” he said. “I didn’t expect it to be possible unless you win a Grand Slam. Other than that, it never happens. It was a lot fun.”

Isner’s appearance Monday night coincided with actress Kristin Stewart’s visit to the Late Show to promote the third movie of the Twilight series, Eclipse.

“I spoke to her for a few minutes actually,” Isner said. “She knew about [the match], actually. It was really, really cool. She’s obviously pretty big. [My friends] were definitely jealous.”

Adding to the surreal experience of the marathon match aftermath, Isner learned that he and Mahut had been nominated for an ESPY Award in the Best Record Breaking Performance category, with their match concluding just minutes before the nomination committee announced the short-list for this year’s awards.

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“That’s what I heard. It’s so crazy,” said Isner of the perfect timing. “Never thought that’d be possible. I always watch the ESPYs on TV. I’m not a guy who watches the Grammys or Oscars, but I’ll watch the ESPYs.”

Other nominees in the category include Usain Bolt, Brett Favre, Roger Federer, and the Connecticut Women’s Basketball team.

“I’m just looking forward to going there, and meeting those guys,” said Isner, who will attend the awards show in two weeks’ time in Los Angeles. “Pretty stiff competition… Hopefully [we] can win it, but I’m excited just to attend.”

Following the ESPYs, Isner will head to Atlanta to make his first tour-level appearance since Wimbledon at the inaugural Atlanta Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour 250 hard-court event.

Isner will step back out on the court Monday, but will take little time to rest before then. “I’ll be back in the gym and build my strength up little by little, then go back on the court; that’s when I feel the best,” he said. “These next four days I’m going to be working out pretty hard for three of them.”