Shirley Tart reports from Wimbledon, the world’s most famous tennis tournament.

A burly, tattooed man stepped out into the concourse in front of John Isner as he was finally making his exit from the second round.

Security people around him immediately reacted but the man simply stood there applauding and said: “Thanks John, you made my Wimbledon.”

Which of course is how millions felt after seeing that most amazing match this week with a fifth set ending after Isner won by 70 to 68 games.

But yesterday, the poor chap didn’t stand a chance with his blisters, his aches, stiff arms and legs and pains where he didn’t know he had places.

He lost the first set 6-0 and while he gamely played the three sets, Isner never really got into it. No doubt the curiosity value of a TV or stage show career awaits him now if he wants it as the man who won tennis’s unexpected marathon.

*A quick word with Judy Murray about her idea for a tennis academy which she is desperate to establish. The former leading player and coach and mum to Andy and Jamie, wants to put something back and bring on other youngsters. And as we’ve just seen the worst British representation into the second round for years, we’d all say Amen to that.

*While eating and drinking at Wimbledon has always been astronomical, apparently it’s the Pimms which have caused most comment this week. A plastic glass of the stuff costs and eye-watering £6.70. Having just paid £3.30 for the kind of ice cream which is around £1.50 in the real world, when I was told that, I can quite believe it. No wonder many people are taking their own strawberries in!

*Statistics are wonderful because you can do anything with them. In the 30 or so e-mails I received from the referees office in two days, was yesterday’s naming the oldest player left – qualifier Greta Arn at 31 years two months. While the youngest player still in is Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who is 18 years and 11 months. Actually, that’s not record old (Virginia Wade was a week away from her 32nd birthday when she won the trophy) or record young (Boris Becker was 17) but it’s a statistic.

And so now we prepare for the second week of this most eventful tournament!