Longest tennis match records

At the 2010 Wimbledon Championships John Isner (left) defeated Nicolas Mahut (right) 6–4, 3–6, 6–7^(7–9), 7–6^(7–3), 70–68 in the world's longest ever tennis match. The match lasted 11 hours, 5 minutes.

A plaque commemorating the Isner-Mahut match exists on Court 18 at Wimbledon.

This article details longest tennis match records by duration or number of games. The 1973 introduction of the tiebreak reduced the opportunity for such records to be broken. However, among the Grand Slams, only the US Open uses the tiebreak in the final set; the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic tennis instead use the advantage set rules in the final set – in such a set there can be an indefinite number of games until there is a winner. This resulted, for example, in the record-obliterating Isner v. Mahut match at Wimbledon 2010.

Overall

Men

The Isner–Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships holds the record for the longest tennis match both in time and games played. Only two official ATP matches have lasted longer than 7 hours. Eleven matches have lasted longer than 6 hours, and 36 matches have lasted longer than 5 hours.^[1]

• 11 h 05 Wimbledon 2010, 1st round: John Isner def. Nicolas Mahut, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7^(7–9), 7–6^(7–3), 70–68 (3 days).
• 7 h 02 Davis Cup 2013, 1st round: Tomáš Berdych, Lukáš Rosol def. Stanislas Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–7^(3–7), 24–22 (1 day).
• 6 h 43 Davis Cup 2015, 1st round: Leonardo Mayer def. João Souza, 7–6^(7–4), 7–6^(7–5), 5–7, 5–7, 15–13 (1 day).
• 6 h 33 French Open 2004, 1st round: Fabrice Santoro def. Arnaud Clément, 6–4, 6–3, 6–7^(5–7), 3–6, 16–14 (2 days).
• 6 h 22 Davis Cup 1982, quarterfinal: John McEnroe def. Mats Wilander, 9–7, 6–2, 15–17, 3–6, 8–6 (1 day ; before tie-break era).
• 6 h 21 Davis Cup 1987 barrage: Boris Becker def. John McEnroe, 4–6, 15–13, 8–10, 6–2, 6–2 (1 day ; before tie-break era).
• 6 h 20 Davis Cup 2002 semifinal: Lucas Arnold Ker, David Nalbandian def. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marat Safin, 6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 19–17 (1 day).
• 6 h 15 Davis Cup 1980: José Luis Clerc def. John McEnroe 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 13–11 (before tie-break era).
• 6 h 07 Wimbledon 2006, quarterfinal: Mark Knowles, Daniel Nestor def. Todd Perry, Simon Aspelin, 5-7, 6-3, 6-7^(5–7) 6-3, 23-21 (2 days).^[2]
• 6 h 04 Davis Cup 1989, quarter final: Horst Skoff def. Mats Wilander, 6–7^(5–7), 7–6^(9–7), 1–6, 6–4, 9–7 (1 day).
• 6 h 01 Davis Cup 1982: Harry Fritz def. Jorge Andrew 16–14, 11–9, 9–11, 4–6, 11–9 (before tie-break era).
• 5 h 59 Davis Cup 2009, semifinal: Radek Štěpánek def. Ivo Karlović, 6–7^(5–7), 7–6^(7–5), 7–6^(8–6), 6–7^(2–7), 16–14.
• 5 h 53 Australian Open 2012, final: Novak Djoković def. Rafael Nadal, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7^(5–7), 7–5.
• 5 h 46 Davis Cup 2001, quarterfinal: Arnaud Clément def. Marc Rosset, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6^(7–5), 6–7^(6–8), 15–13.
• 5 h 45 Davis Cup 2005: Mehdi Tahiri def. Gilles Müller, 6–7^(9–11), 6–4, 7–6^(7–1), 6–7^(2–7), 6–4.
• 5 h 41 French Open 2012, 2nd round: Paul-Henri Mathieu def. John Isner 6–7^(2–7), 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 18–16.
• 5 h 31 French Open 1998, 3rd round: Àlex Corretja def. Hernán Gumy 6–1, 5–7, 6–7^(4–7), 7–5, 9–7.
• 5 h 31 Wimbledon 2012: Marin Čilić def. Sam Querrey 7–6^(8–6), 6–4, 6–7^(2–7), 6–7^(3–7), 17–15.
• 5 h 28 Wimbledon 1989, 2nd round: Greg Holmes def. Todd Witsken 5–7, 6–4, 7–6^(7–5), 4–6, 14–12.
• 5 h 26 US Open 1992, semifinal: Stefan Edberg def. Michael Chang 6–7^(3–7), 7–5, 7–6^(7–3), 5–7, 6–4.
• 5 h 25 Davis Cup 1994, 1st round: Thomas Muster def. Michael Stich 6–4, 6–7^(8–10), 4–6, 6–3, 12–10.
• 5 h 25 Davis Cup 2011: Tatsuma Ito def. Cecil Mamiit 6–4, 6–7^(5–7), 6–3, 6–7^(3–7), 9–7.
• 5 h 23 Davis Cup 2008: Pablo Cuevas def. Santiago Giraldo 6–4, 3–6, 5–7, 7–6^(7–4), 6–4.
• 5 h 20 Davis Cup 2008: Nicolás Lapentti def. Ramón Delgado 3–6, 4–6, 7–6^(7–2), 7–6^(7–4), 6–4.
• 5 h 14 Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2005, final: Rafael Nadal def. Guillermo Coria 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 7–6^(8–6).
• 5 h 14 Australian Open 2009, semifinal: Rafael Nadal def. Fernando Verdasco 6–7^(4–7), 6–4, 7–6^(7–2), 6–7^(1–7), 6–4.
• 5 h 14 Davis Cup 2009: Nicolás Massú def. Stefan Koubek 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 7–6^(8–6).
• 5 h 12 Wimbledon 2008, quarterfinal: Rainer Schüttler def. Arnaud Clément 6–3, 5–7, 7–6^(8–6), 6–7^(7–9), 8–6.
• 5 h 12 Wimbledon 1969, 1st round: Pancho Gonzales def. Charlie Pasarell 22–24, 1–6, 16–14, 6–3, 11–9^[3]
• 5 h 09 US Open 2004, 2nd round: Sargis Sargsian def. Nicolás Massú 6–7^(6–8), 6–4, 3–6, 7–6^(8–6), 6–4.
• 5 h 09 Davis Cup 2012: Marin Čilić def. David Nalbandian 5–7, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6^(7–2), 6–3 .
• 5 h 07 Davis Cup 2012: Janko Tipsarević def. Radek Štěpánek 5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 4–6, 9–7.
• 5 h 07 Davis Cup 2007: Dudi Sela def. Nicolás Massú 6–3, 6–4, 6–7^(4–7), 6–4.
• 5 h 05 Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2006, final: Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6–7^(0–7), 7–6^(7–5), 6–4, 2–6, 7–6^(7–5).
• 5 h 05 Wimbledon 1985, quarterfinal: Heinz Gunthardt, Balazs Taroczy def. Paul Annacone, Christo Van Rensburg, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-7, 24-22.^[2]
• 5 h 02 Australian Open 2013, 4th round: Novak Djoković def. Stanislas Wawrinka 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–7 ^(5–7), 12–10

Women

The longest women's match (by time) took place at a tournament in Richmond, Virginia, in 1984, when Vicki Nelson took 6 hours, 31 minutes to defeat Jean Hepner 6–4, 7–6^(11–9). The match featured a 29-minute, 643-shot rally, the longest in professional tennis history.^[4]

• 6 h 31 Central Fidelity Banks International 1984, 1st round: Vicki Nelson def. Jean Hepner, 6–4, 7–6^(11–9).
• 4 h 44 Australian Open 2011, 4th round: Francesca Schiavone def. Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6–4, 1–6, 16–14.
• 4 h 19 Australian Open 2010, 1st round: Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová def. Regina Kulikova, 7–6^(7–5), 6–7^(10–12), 6–3.
• 4 h 07 French Open 1995, 1st round: Virginie Buisson def. Noëlle van Lottum, 6–7^(3-7), 7–5, 6–2.
• 3 h 55 French Open 1972, 3rd round: Kerry Reid def. Pam Teeguarden, 9–7, 4–6, 16–14.

The longest women's match (by games) occurred in 1995 when Chanda Rubin defeated Patricia Hy-Boulais 7–6^(7–4), 6–7^(5–7), 17–15 in the second round at Wimbledon.^[5] This 58 game match took 3 hours 45 minutes to complete.

Doubles

• Longest doubles match by time: In a 2013 Davis Cup first round tie, the Czech Republic team of Tomáš Berdych and Lukáš Rosol defeated the Switzerland team of Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli in 7 hours, 02 minutes 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–7^(3–7), 24–22.
• Most games in a doubles match before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In the American Zone Final of the 1973 Davis Cup, the United States team of Stan Smith and Erik Van Dillen took 122 games to defeat the Chile team of Patricio Cornejo and Jaime Fillol 7–9, 37–39, 8–6, 6–1, 6–3.^[6]
• Most games in a doubles match after the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 2007 at Wimbledon, the team of Marcelo Melo and André Sá took 102 games to defeat the team of Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett 5–7, 7–6^(7–4), 4–6, 7–6^(9–7), 28–26.^[7]

Australian Open

Men

Longest match by time played
2012 final, 5 hours and 53 minutes
Novak Djoković (details)	5	6	6	65	7
Rafael Nadal	7	4	2	77	5
Also the longest grand slam singles title final in the Open Era.

Longest singles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[8]
1927, 71 games
Gerald Patterson	3	6	3	18	6
John Hawkes	6	4	6	16	3
This was the longest Grand Slam final in games played until the Federer v Roddick final at Wimbledon in 2009.[9]

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring[10]
2003 quarterfinals, 83 games
Andy Roddick	4	77	4	6	21
Younes El Aynaoui	6	65	6	4	19

Women

Francesca Schiavone won the longest ever match at a women's Grand Slam event in 4 hours 44 minutes.

Longest match by time played
2011 fourth round, 4 hours and 44 minutes
Francesca Schiavone	6	1	16
Svetlana Kuznetsova	4	6	14
Also the longest women's match in a Grand Slam in the Open Era,[11] and the second-longest women's match in the Open Era.[12]

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
1996 quarterfinals, 48 games
Chanda Rubin	6	2	16
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	4	6	14

Longest singles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[13]
1956, 33 games
Mary Carter Reitano	3	6	9
Thelma Coyne Long	6	2	7

French Open

Arnaud Clément (pictured) lost the longest ever match at the French Open to Fabrice Santoro in 6 hours 33 minutes. He expressed his disappointment at losing the match which until 2010 held the record for the longest ever match stating: "Frankly, I don't give a damn...What world record? Do I get a medal? If I'm not getting anything, frankly, I'm not interested. It doesn't count."^[14]

Men

Longest match by time played[15]
2004 first round, 6 hours, 33 minutes
Fabrice Santoro	6	6	65	3	16
Arnaud Clément	4	3	77	6	14

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[15]
1951 semifinal, 76 games
Eric Sturgess	10	7	8	5	9
Ken McGregor	8	9	6	7	7

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
2012 second round, 76 games
Paul-Henri Mathieu	62	6	6	3	18
John Isner	77	4	4	6	16

Longest singles final match by time played[15]
1982, 4 hours and 42 minutes
Mats Wilander	1	78	6	6
Guillermo Vilas	6	66	0	4

Longest singles final by games, before introduction of the tiebreaker[15]
1927, 61 games
René Lacoste	6	4	5	6	11
Bill Tilden	4	6	7	3	9

Men's doubles

Longest men's doubles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[16]
1934, 63 games
Jean Borotra Jacques Brugnon	11	6	2	4	9
Jack Crawford Vivian McGrath	9	3	6	6	7

1971, 63 games
Arthur Ashe Marty Riessen	6	4	6	6	11
Tom Gorman Stan Smith	8	6	3	4	9

Women

Longest match by time played[17]
1995 French Open, 4 hours 7 minutes
Virginie Buisson	6	7	6
Noëlle van Lottum	73	5	2

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1972 third-round match, 56 games
Kerry Melville Reid	9	4	16
Pam Teeguarden	7	6	14

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
1991 second round, 46 games
Linda Harvey-Wild	79	67	11
Laura Gildemeister	67	79	9

Longest singles final match by number of games
1996 French Open, 40 games
Steffi Graf	6	6	10
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	3	7	8

Longest doubles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[18]
1955, 50 games
Beverly Baker Fleitz Darlene Hard	7	6	13
Shirley Brasher Bloomer Patricia Ward Hales	5	8	11
This is also the longest women's doubles match in terms of games that has occurred at The French Open.[18]

Mixed doubles

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[19]
1956, 38 games
Nicola Pietrangeli Shirley Brasher Bloomer	9	6	6
Robert Howe Lorraine Coghlan Robinson	7	8	2

Wimbledon

Men

The 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal lasted 4 hours 48 minutes and is the third longest singles final by time played.

Longest match by time and number of games
2010 first round, 183 games, 11 hours and 5 minutes.[20] This is the longest professional tennis match ever played at any level.[20]
John Isner	6	3	67	77	70
Nicolas Mahut	4	6	79	63	68

Longest singles final match by time played
2008, 4 hours and 48 minutes[21]
Rafael Nadal	6	6	65	68	9
Roger Federer	4	4	77	710	7

Longest singles final match by number of games
2009 77 games[22] This match also had the longest final set in a Grand Slam final by games[22]
Roger Federer	5	78	77	3	16
Andy Roddick	7	66	65	6	14

Men's Doubles

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1966 first round, 98 games[23]
Nikola Pilić Gene Scott	19	12	6	4	9
Cliff Richey Torben Ulrich	21	10	4	6	7

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
2007 third round 102 games[23]
Marcelo Melo André Sá	5	7(7)	4	7(9)	28
Paul Hanley Kevin Ullyett	7	6(4)	6	6(7)	26

Longest doubles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1968, 70 games
John Newcombe Tony Roche	3	8	5	14	6
Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle	6	6	7	12	3

Longest doubles final match by time played
1992, 5 hours and 1 minute
John McEnroe Michael Stich	5	7(7)	3	7(7)	19
Jim Grabb Richey Reneberg	7	6(5)	6	6(5)	17
Also the longest doubles final by number of games (83).

Women

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1948 second round, 54 games
Alice Weiwers	8	14	6
Rita Anderson	10	12	4

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
1995 second round, 58 games
Chanda Rubin	77	65	17
Patricia Hy-Boulais	64	77	15

Longest match by time played[24]
1995 second round, 3 hours 45 mins
Chanda Rubin	77	65	17
Patricia Hy-Boulais	64	77	15
NB: The Bud Collins History of Tennis incorrectly lists this match as having occurred in 1996

Longest singles final match by time played[25]
2005, 2 hours and 45 minutes
Venus Williams	4	77	9
Lindsay Davenport	6	64	7

Longest singles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[26]
1970, 46 games
Margaret Court	14	11
Billie Jean King	12	9

Women's Doubles

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1933 first round, 48 games
Pat Brazier Christabel Wheatcroft	11	5	9
Mildred Nonweiler Betty Soames	9	7	7

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1933, 38 games
Simonne Mathieu Elizabeth Ryan	6	9	6
Freda James Billie Yorke	2	11	4

1967, 38 games
Billie Jean King Rosemary Casals	9	6	6
Maria Bueno Nancy Richey Gunter	11	4	2

Mixed doubles

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1967 quarterfinals, 56 games
Ken Fletcher Margaret Court	6	7	16
Alex Metreveli Anna Dmitrieva	8	5	14

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1949, 48 games
Eric Sturgess Sheila Piercey Summers	9	9	7
John Bromwich Louise Brough Clapp	7	11	5

US Open

Stefan Edberg's (pictured) 1992 defeat of Michael Chang 6–7^(3–7), 7–5, 7–6^(7–3), 5–7, 6–4 in 5 hours 26 minutes remains the longest match at the US Open in terms of match duration.

Men

Longest match by time played[27]
1992, 5 hours and 26 minutes
Stefan Edberg	63	7	77	5	6
Michael Chang	77	5	63	7	4

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
1979 second round, 63 games
John Lloyd	5	6	7	7	7
Paul McNamee	7	7	5	6	6

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1966 third round, 105 games
Marcello Lara Joaquin Loyo-Mayo	10	24	11	3	6
Manuel Santana Luis-Augusto García	12	22	9	6	2

1967 quarterfinals, 105 games
Cliff Drysdale Ray Moore	29	8	3	8	6
Roy Emerson Ron Barnes	31	6	6	6	2

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1969, 100 games
Franklin Robbins	22	9	6	8	6
Donald Dell	20	7	8	10	4

Longest singles final match by time played[28]
1988, 4 hours and 54 minutes
Mats Wilander	6	4	6	5	6
Ivan Lendl	4	6	3	7	4

2012, 4 hours and 54 minutes
Andy Murray (details)	712	7	2	3	6
Novak Djokovic	610	5	6	6	2

Longest singles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1949, 67 games
Pancho Gonzales	16	2	6	6	6
Ted Schroeder	18	6	1	2	4

Longest doubles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1946, 74 games
Gardnar Mulloy William Talbert	3	6	2	6	20
Frank Guernsey Don McNeill	6	4	6	3	18

Women

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1898 challenge round, 51 games best-of-five-sets match
Juliette Atkinson	6	5	6	2	7
Marion Jones	3	7	4	6	5

Longest doubles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1920, 43 games
Eleanor Goss Marion Zinderstein	13	4	6
Helen Baker Eleanor "Teach" Tennant	11	6	3

Longest match by time played[29]
3rd round, 2011. 3 hours 16 minutes
Samantha Stosur	7(7)	6(5)	7
Nadia Petrova	6(5)	7(7)	5

Mixed doubles

Longest mixed doubles final match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction
1959, 48 games
Neale Fraser Margaret Osborne duPont	7	13	6
Bob Mark Janet Hopps Adkisson	5	15	2

Summer Olympics

• Note: The International Olympic Committee does not recognise records in tennis. Therefore all the records listed below are unofficial.

Overall

• Before the introduction of the tiebreaker method:
  • Longest match by time and number of games played: Gordon Lowe def. Augustos Zerlendis at the 1920 Summer Olympics, 76 games, ca. 6 h.^[30]

• After the introduction of the tiebreaker method:
  • Longest match by time played: Boris Becker def. Christian Ruud at the 1992 Summer Olympics, first round, 5 h and 53 min (56 games).^[30]
  • Longest match by number of games: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Milos Raonic at the 2012 Olympics, 66 games (3 h 57 min).^[30]

Men

Singles, best-of-three-sets system

Longest match by time played[31][32]
2012 semifinals, 4 h and 26 min (58 games)
Roger Federer	3	77	19
Juan Martín del Potro	6	65	17
Note: Match played on 3 August 2012. This is also the longest best-of-three-sets men's singles match ever played in the open era (with or without a tiebreaker in the final set).

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring[30][33][34]
2012 second round, 66 games (3 h 57 min)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	6	3	25
Milos Raonic	3	6	23
Note: Match played on 31 July 2012. Beating the previous record of 61 games set during the five set doubles final in 1988. The third set also set a record for most games played in a set at an Olympics, beating the previous record set at the 2004 Summer Olympics by Fernando González and Taylor Dent, 30 games, by 18 games.

Singles, best-of-five-sets system

Longest match by number of games, before the tiebreaker introduction[30]
1920 semifinals, 76 games (6 hrs?) (See Note)
Gordon Lowe	14	8	5	6	6
Augustos Zerlendis	12	10	7	4	4
Note: World Tennis Magazine state that some media outlets have reported [this match] lasting approximately six hours.[35] This match therefore could have been the longest Olympic tennis match in terms of match duration as well as being the longest Olympic tennis match in terms of number of games.

Longest match by number of games, after the introduction of the tiebreaker[30]
1992 first round, 5 h and 53 min (56 games)
Boris Becker	3	77	5	77	6
Christian Ruud	6	62	7	62	3
Note: Tsonga vs. Raonic above (best-of-three-sets system) was longer by number of games.

Doubles

Longest match by time played[30]
2008 semifinals, 4 h and 44 min (59 games)
Simon Aspelin Thomas Johansson	78	4	19
Arnaud Clément Michaël Llodra	66	6	17

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring[36]
2012 second round, 63 games
Marcelo Melo Bruno Soares	1	6	24
Tomáš Berdych Radek Štěpánek	6	4	22
Note: This match was played on 1 Aug 2012, only a day after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Milos Raonic set the record of 66 games in a best-of-three-sets match.

Women

Singles

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
1988 second round, 42 games
Larisa Savchenko	63	77	9
Sara Gomer	77	63	7

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring
2004 first round, 42 games
Paola Suárez	77	65	9
Nathalie Dechy	61	77	7

Doubles

Longest match by number of games, using tiebreaker scoring[30]
1988 first round, 63 games
Carling Bassett-Seguso Jill Hetherington	710	5	20
Mercedes Paz Gabriela Sabatini	68	7	18

Davis Cup

Longest rubber by duration
2013 World Group first round, Switzerland vs. Czech Republic. 7 hours and 2 minutes[37]
Stanislas Wawrinka Marco Chiudinelli	4	7	4	7	22
Tomáš Berdych Lukáš Rosol	6	5	6	6	24

Longest rubber by number of games (Doubles)
Doubles of the 1973 American Zone Final between Chile and the USA, 122 games[37]
Stan Smith Erik Van Dillen	7	37	8	6	6
Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol	9	39	6	1	3
the 39–37 second set is the longest set in Davis Cup history

Longest rubber by number of games (singles)
1982 American Zone Semifinal between Canada and Venezuela, 100 games[37]
Harry Fritz	16	11	9	4	11
Jorge Andrew	14	9	11	6	9

See also

• Tennis statistics
• Shortest tennis match records
• Longest tiebreaker in tennis

References

External links

• BBC – Extreme tennis: the demands of a 10-hour game