John Isner of the United States won the longest tennis match ever Thursday, taking the fifth-set of his first-round Wimbledon match with Nicolas Mahut of France 70-68. The final time of match was an incredible 11 hours, 5 minutes.
Isner and Mahut split the first four sets Tuesday, before darkness caused for the match to be delayed. They began the fifth set Wednesday at 2:04 p.m., and play was halted again at 9:10 p.m., because of darkness with the score tied 59-59.
Isner finished with a total of 112 aces and Mahut with 103.
The previous longest match in tennis history was 6 hours, 33 minutes, played between Arnaud Clement and Fabrice Santoro – both of France – in the first round of the 2004 French Open, Santoro winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(5), 3-6, 16-14 in a match stretched over two days.
The longest tennis matches of all time now list as follows;
11:05 John Isner def. Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (9), 7-6 (3), 70-68, 2010 Wimbledon first round
6:33 Fabrice Santoro def. Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 3-6, 16-14, 2004 French Open first round
6:31 Vicki Nelson-Dunbar def. Jean Hepner 6-4, 7-6 (13-11), 1984 Virginia Slims of Richmond
6:22 John McEnroe def. Mats Wilander 9-7, 6-2, 15-17, 3-6, 8-6, 1982 Davis Cup quarterfinal
Both players broke the previous record for most aces in a match, set by Ivo Karlovic of Croatia last year when he hit 78 aces in a Davis Cup match against Radek Stepanek.
For all draws, schedules and further Wimbledon news, go to www.Wimbledon.org