The towering American rallied to defeat Nalbandian 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8 in a second-round match that lasted for 4 hours, 41 minutes, including a 99-minute deciding set.
Although the match didn’t go nearly as long as Isner’s 11-hour, 5-minute battle with Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010 – which the 6-foot-9 Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set – it certainly wasn’t short on drama. Nalbandian complained when his request to challenge a line call was rejected by chair umpire Kader Nouni.
It's ridiculous playing this kind of tournament with this kind of umpire. Eight-all, break point. Can you be that stupid to do that in that moment? What does the umpire need? Press, the name, his picture [in the paper] tomorrow? Incredible."
Asked whether he felt Nouni was incapable of taking charge of this kind of match, Nalbandian said: "Absolutely. No doubt. Nothing happened in the match, and in that moment, he called an overrule. I call Hawk-Eye, and he didn't give it.
"I have never seen something like that. So the ATP have to check what they doing for the umpires. Do they practise? I don't know."
Nalbandian ruled out making an official protest, though, believing the evidence was already out there.
"If they really want to do something, I don't need to do anything, because it's on the TV, on the video. But every time we talk to the ATP, it's like nothing, so what is the ATP for, the players or for somebody else?"
Isner, who plays Feliciano Lopez in round three, told ESPN immediately afterwards: "I didn't know what was going on as I was towelling off. I guess I was just a little luckier out there.
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