The Longest Tennis Match Lasted Over 11 Hours

The first-round match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships was a statistical anomaly that captured the world's attention. Play began on Tuesday, June 22nd, and after four sets, the match was suspended due to fading light. When play resumed on Wednesday, the fifth and final set began, but with no final-set tiebreak rule in place at Wimbledon at the time, the set continued for hours until it was once again suspended due to darkness. By the time Isner finally won on Thursday, June 24th, the fifth set alone had lasted a staggering eight hours and 11 minutes.

The physical and mental endurance required from both athletes was immense. The match saw a combined 215 aces and a total of 183 games played. The scoreboard on Court 18 was not designed to display scores so high and eventually malfunctioned. In the aftermath of this unprecedented event, both players were celebrated for their incredible sportsmanship and resilience. Isner, despite his victory, was so physically drained that he was eliminated in the next round in straight sets.

This historic match had a lasting impact on the sport. The sheer length of the contest and the toll it took on the players sparked a debate about the rules governing final sets in Grand Slam tournaments. Ultimately, Wimbledon and the other Grand Slams introduced a final-set tiebreak to prevent such marathon matches from occurring again, ensuring the health and safety of the players. This rule change stands as a direct legacy of the epic three-day battle between Isner and Mahut.