On July 16, 2010, John Isner of the United States and Nicolas Mahut of France played the longest tennis match in history at Wimbledon. The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over a span of three days, with Isner winning 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7), 7–6(3), 70–68.
In the fifth set alone, Isner and Mahut played for 8 hours and 11 minutes, with Isner ultimately prevailing 70–68. The match featured a total of 183 games, the most ever in a tennis match. It also holds the record for the most games in a singles match at Wimbledon (Isner – 112, Mahut – 103). The match has been described as “the most epic tennis match of all time” and “one of the greatest sporting events of all time.” It was also hailed as a victory for tennis, with many commentators praising the two players for their determination and sportsmanship.
How long is a tennis match
A tennis match is typically composed of two or three sets. A set consists of a predetermined number of games, usually six or seven. A game is won by the first player to reach four points (love), unless both players have scored three points each, in which case the game goes to deuce and the next player to win two consecutive points wins the game. If the score reaches deuce, the players may elect to play a tiebreaker to determine the winner of the set. A tiebreaker is a mini-game played to seven points, with the winner being the first player to reach or exceed seven points while still leading their opponent by at least two points.
The length of a tennis match depends on the number of sets played and the scoring format. A two-set match can be over in as little as half an hour, while a three-set match may take upwards of two hours to complete. If a match goes to a tiebreaker, it can add another half-hour or more to the duration.
Background on the match and the players
John Isner is an American professional tennis player. He is currently ranked No. 9 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Isner has won 10 ATP singles titles, including one Masters 1000 event. He is best known for his victory at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, where he defeated Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the longest tennis match in history.
Nicolas Mahut is a French professional tennis player. He is currently ranked No. 148 in the world by the ATP. Mahut has won four ATP singles titles and one doubles title. He is best known for his performance at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, where he lost to American John Isner in the longest tennis match in history.
What was at stake for both players
For John Isner, the 2010 Wimbledon Championships represented an opportunity to win his first ever Grand Slam singles title. He had previously reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event on three occasions, but had never made it any further. A victory at Wimbledon would not only give Isner his first Grand Slam title, but would also propel him into the Top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career.
For Nicolas Mahut, the 2010 Wimbledon Championships represented an opportunity to make history. He was already known as a bit of a marathon man, having won a five-set match at Wimbledon in 2009 that lasted over 4 hours. But Mahut was determined to go one better in 2010, and his match against Isner would ultimately give him that chance.
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