The longest tennis match ever played took place at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, where American John Isner faced French player Nicolas Mahut in the men’s singles first round. What began as an ordinary opening round match turned into a three day contest that rewrote the record books.
Isner eventually defeated Mahut by 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68 after 11 hours and 5 minutes of play. The match featured 183 games, 980 points and a fifth set that lasted more than eight hours.
Even after playing for hours, neither player was willing to give up. Both continued to hold serve, pushing the final set to a score rarely seen in professional tennis. Isner finally secured the victory on June 24, 2010, ending one of the most remarkable matches in sporting history.
What Was the Longest Tennis Match Ever Played?
The longest tennis match ever played was between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon on June 22, 23 and 24, 2010. The first round match took place on Court 18 and lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes in total.
Isner won the match in five sets, with the deciding set ending 70–68. The fifth set alone lasted 8 hours and 11 minutes, making it longer than many complete professional tennis matches.
The contest also broke several records for the number of games, points and aces. Both players delivered outstanding serving performances, making it extremely difficult for either one to break serve.
Isner vs Mahut Match Overview
| Match Detail | Information |
| Tournament | 2010 Wimbledon Championships |
| Round | Men’s Singles First Round |
| Date | June 22 to June 24, 2010 |
| Venue | Court 18, Wimbledon |
| Winner | John Isner |
| Runner Up | Nicolas Mahut |
| Final Score | 6–4, 3–6, 6–7 (7–9), 7–6 (7–3), 70–68 |
| Total Duration | 11 hours and 5 minutes |
| Fifth Set Duration | 8 hours and 11 minutes |
| Total Games | 183 |
| Total Points | 980 |
| Isner’s Aces | 113 |
| Mahut’s Aces | 103 |
How Did the Isner vs Mahut Match Last Three Days?
The match took place over three consecutive days because Wimbledon suspended play twice due to fading light. The players completed four sets on the opening day before the fifth set turned into an extraordinary battle.
Day 1: June 22, 2010
Isner and Mahut began their first round match on Court 18 at Wimbledon. Isner took the opening set 6–4, but Mahut responded by winning the second set 6–3.
Mahut then won the third set in a tie break, taking it 7–6. Isner fought back in the fourth set and won another tie break to level the match at two sets each.
With the score tied at 2–2, officials suspended play because of fading light. The match had already lasted almost three hours, but the deciding set was still to come.
Day 2: June 23, 2010
The players returned to Court 18 to begin the fifth set. Neither could find a way to break the other’s serve.
As the set continued, the score moved beyond the usual limits of a tennis set. Both players held serve repeatedly, and the match became the longest in professional tennis history while it was still in progress.
The courtside electronic scoreboard famously stopped displaying the score when it reached 47–47. It had not been programmed to show such a high game count. The scoreboard was later adjusted to accommodate the extraordinary score.
By the time darkness stopped play again, Isner and Mahut were tied at 59–59 in the fifth set. They had spent another full day competing without a winner.
Day 3: June 24, 2010
Isner and Mahut returned for the third day with the fifth set still level at 59–59. The match continued with both players fighting to protect their serve.
Isner finally broke Mahut’s serve in the 138th game of the set. He won the final game to secure a 70–68 victory.
The match ended after 11 hours and 5 minutes. The players shook hands at the net and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Why Did the Isner vs Mahut Match Last So Long?
The main reason behind the extraordinary length was the absence of a final set tie break at Wimbledon in 2010. Under the rules at the time, players had to win the deciding set by at least two games.
This meant that a player could not win the match simply by reaching a score such as 7–6 or 10–9. They needed to create a two game advantage.
Both Isner and Mahut were powerful servers. Their strong serves made it difficult for the opponent to return the ball and create break point opportunities.
As a result, the players continued winning their service games. Neither managed to establish the required two game lead until Isner finally broke Mahut at 70–68.
The physical and mental demands were enormous. Both players had to maintain concentration, movement and serving accuracy despite hours of continuous competition.
Records Broken During the Longest Tennis Match
The Isner vs Mahut match produced several records that made it one of the most remarkable events in tennis history.
| Record | Achievement |
| Longest professional tennis match | 11 hours, 5 minutes |
| Longest fifth set | 8 hours, 11 minutes |
| Most games in a professional match | 183 |
| Most games in a single set | 138 |
| Total points played | 980 |
| Points in the fifth set | 711 |
| Isner’s aces | 113 |
| Mahut’s aces | 103 |
| Combined aces | 216 |
One particularly surprising statistic was that Mahut actually won more points than Isner. Mahut collected 502 points, while Isner won 478. However, Isner won the most important point by breaking Mahut’s serve in the final game.
The match also produced a record number of consecutive service holds. Both players protected their serve for an extraordinary stretch, which explains why the fifth set continued for so long.
What Happened to Isner and Mahut After the Match?
Although Isner won the contest, both players received widespread recognition for their endurance and sportsmanship.
The All England Club presented them with special commemorative gifts, including crystal mementos and champagne flutes. A plaque was also installed on Court 18 to remember the historic match.
Isner received considerable attention for winning the longest match in tennis history. However, he had little time to recover before his next match against Thiemo de Bakker. He lost that second round match in straight sets.
Mahut also received praise for his performance. Despite losing, he became part of tennis history through his determination and ability to compete at such a high level for three days.
Their match remains a memorable example of the physical and mental endurance required in professional tennis.
Did Tennis Change Its Rules After the Isner vs Mahut Match?
Yes. The Isner vs Mahut match renewed discussions about whether professional tennis needed a limit on the length of deciding sets.
Wimbledon eventually introduced a final set tie break at 12–12 in 2019. The decision followed another lengthy match in 2018, when Kevin Anderson defeated John Isner 26–24 in the fifth set of their Wimbledon semifinal.
In March 2022, the four Grand Slam tournaments announced a common final set tie break format. Under this rule, a match reaching 6–6 in the deciding set is settled by a 10 point tie break. A player must win at least 10 points and lead by two points to take the match.
This rule applies at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
The change prevents another 70–68 final set under the current Grand Slam format. While long matches are still possible, the Isner vs Mahut record is much harder to challenge under these rules.
Conclusion
The Isner vs Mahut contest at Wimbledon 2010 remains the longest tennis match ever played. Lasting 11 hours and 5 minutes across three days, it featured 183 games, 980 points and a remarkable 70–68 final set. The match demonstrated exceptional endurance from both players and helped renew discussions about final set rules. Today, Grand Slam tie breaks prevent the same type of endless deciding set, preserving the Isner vs Mahut match as a unique moment in tennis history.
FAQs
The longest professional tennis match was played between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010. It lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days.
John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut in the 2010 Wimbledon first round. He won by 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68.
The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes in total. The fifth set alone took 8 hours and 11 minutes to complete.
A total of 183 games were played during the Isner vs Mahut match. The deciding fifth set accounted for 138 of those games.
The record can theoretically be challenged, but the current Grand Slam final set tie break rules make another match with a 70–68 deciding set impossible. A match can still last a long time, but it must be decided by a 10 point tie break once the final set reaches 6–6.
