The record-breaking Wimbledon marathon of 2010

There have been countless memorable tennis matches, but never has there been a
longer match than the one between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon
Championships.

The question is whether there has ever been any live sport on TV lasting longer than this extraordinary match. As viewers stacked in front of the TV screens to watch this unforgettable match-up, the players endured one of the most challenging encounters there has ever been in the world of tennis.

John Isner v Nicolas Mahut (2010 Wimbledon, 1st Round, 11h 5min)

The match started on June 22, 2010, and was played on Court 18, a larger outside court at Wimbledon, which became the stage for this historic matchup.

The first four sets were closely contested, with no significant incidents apart from the exchange of set wins for the two players. The match was characterised by its final set, which lasted for eight hours, 11 minutes; far longer than any other match in history and even surpassing the duration of the longest baseball game ever played.

Here are the most compelling statistics and information from this historic encounter:

• Duration: the match lasted 11 hours, fives minutes, making it the longest tennis match
  ever played, surpassing the second-longest match by over four hours.
• Fifth-set marathon: the final set alone lasted eight hours and 11 minutes, which is longer
  than any entire tennis match ever played, and even outlasted the longest professional
  baseball game.
• Ace record: both players served over 100 aces each, with Isner hitting 112 and Mahut
  103, demolishing the previous ace record for a single match.
• Game count: the match consisted of a total of 183 games, with the fifth set contributing
  138 games to this tally, marking it as an unprecedented marathon in the sport’s history.
• Scoreboard limit: the electronic scoreboard malfunctioned at 47-47 in the fifth set, as
  it wasn’t programmed to display scores beyond that point, illustrating the match’s
  extraordinary nature.
• Global captivation: the match garnered worldwide attention, as spectators and
  viewers tuned in to witness history being made, illustrating the unpredictable and thrilling
  nature of live sports.
• Aftermath: following this epic encounter, both players, along with the chair umpire,
  were honoured with special recognition by the All England Club, and a plaque was placed
  at Court 18 to commemorate the match.

Other Memorable Tennis Matches

Czech Republic v Switzerland (2013 Davis Cup, first round, 7h 1min)

Played at the Palexpo in Geneva, this match became the longest in Davis Cup history, lasting an extraordinary seven hours, one minute. The Czech team, consisting of Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol, faced off against the Swiss duo of Marco Chiudinelli and Stanislas Wawrinka in a marathon encounter that showcased not just physical stamina but also mental toughness, teamwork, and strategic play.

Argentina v Brazil (2015 Davis Cup, first round, 6h 43min)

The Davis Cup World Group first-round match between Argentina and Brazil in 2015 was a dramatic encounter that ended in a historic moment for tennis. The tie featured the longest-ever singles rubber between Leonardo Mayer of Argentina and Joao Souza of Brazil.