john isner and nicholas mahut were near unknowns before but record breakers now . big embraced little with whatever strength they could still summon. the final said finished 70 games to 68. a basketball score, not a tennis one. isner the winner, but a moment both will surely remember forever. >> i honestly when i... when i left the match yesterday i really thought it was a dream. i didn't think that was... t type of match was possible and so i was really expecting to wake up in all seriousness. >> reporter: it began on tuesday evening, by wednesday tea time they were five hours in and not even halfway through. standards never dropped. even if heads did occasionally. at 47 all, the scoreboard had had enough. it had to be reprogrammed. as it's a small court,less than a thousand could watch. but they stayed until late into last night when the lights and the legs began to fail. both returned refreshed for a third installment today. a contest they would take 183 games to decide. >> my coach actually believe it or not said jokingly before the tournament started that i'll