This one goes in the books as the second-longest match, by time, in French Open history.
"I just didn't get it done. I felt like I got caught in patterns that weren't ideal for me," said a somber Isner, whose exit means there are no U.S. men in the third round for the first time since 2007. "I wasn't going for my shots at certain points in the match, and that comes from a little bit of a lack of confidence."
About 10 hours earlier, it appeared a man seeded even higher than Isner would be on his way out of the tournament: No. 4 Andy Murray's back was so painful he could barely move. But he persevered to defeat Jarkko Nieminen, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
"Just kind of gritting my teeth," Murray said, "and [trying] to find a way of turning the match around, because I was a few points, probably, from stopping."
And then, thanks in large part to a couple of massages from a trainer, Murray began to feel better.
What's unclear, even to Murray, is how his back will be for his next match.
"I have no idea what will happen in 2 days," Murray said.
