Isner still trying to put longest match out of mind

Three months on from his record breaking Wimbledon slug-fest with Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, American John Isner says he is still trying to free the match from his mind.

Isner and Mahut set the record for the world’s longest ever tennis match in June with an epic encounter the American won 70-68 in the final set of a match that lasted over 11 hours.

“It’s still fresh in my memory. It will probably be fresh in my memory for a long time,” Isner said on Monday.

“It’s something I’ll never forget. I’m still trying to put it behind me and focus on this tournament,” added Isner, who is playing at the China Open in Beijing.

The 25-year-old world number 22 was more economical on Monday with a 7-6 6-3 first round victory over Taiwan’s Yang Tsung-hua in 1 hour 27 minutes at the US$2.5 million tournament.