The very tall man was at the net, about to smash a ball past Frances Tiafoe and possibly through the corporate signage on the back wall of the new Grandstand court.
John Isner, all 6 feet 10 inches of him, pounded an overhead smash straight at the 6-2 Tiafoe, the high bounce forcing him to time his leap — perfectly and majestically — to send back a rocket that landed at Isner’s feet, with help from the net cord.
Isner pushed the half-volley into the net. Tiafoe’s small cheering section broke into a chant — “Big Foe, Big Foe” — and continued to whoop it up as Tiafoe, 18, used his quick feet and laser groundstrokes to take to take the first two sets from the 31-year-old Isner and reach double break point at two-all in the third.