The five longest matches in Wimbledon history
ByPA Sport
Published 19/10/2018 at 13:08 GMT
John Isner and Nicolas Mahut’s 11-hour epic in 2010 is the sport’s longest match.
Wimbledon has introduced a final-set tiebreak with the score at 12-12 from 2019, ending marathon matches
Image credit: PA Sport
Wimbledon’s marathon matches have been consigned to the past after the All England Club announced the introduction of final-set tie-breaks when the score reaches 12-12.
The new format will be introduced for the 2019 tournament.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at the five longest ever matches at SW19.
John Isner v Nicolas Mahut 2010 – 11 hours 5 minutes
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/10/19/2443312-50764975-2560-1440.jpg)
John Isner won the longest ever match at Wimbledon in 2010
Image credit: PA Sport
The longest ever match in the history of the sport was played over three days in 2010’s first round. American John Isner eventually won it 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7) 7-6 (3) 70-68 after a marathon last set that lasted just over eight hours.
Kevin Anderson v John Isner 2018 – 6 hours 36 minutes
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/10/19/2443314-50765015-2560-1440.jpg)
Isner and Kevin Anderson shared a semi-final that lasted over six and a half hours in 2018
Image credit: PA Sport
Isner will have been getting flashbacks as he embarked on another monster five-setter with fellow big-serving Kevin Anderson in the first semi-final of the 2018 tournament. The South African prevailed 7-6 (6) 6-7 (5) 6-7 (7) 6-4 26-24 in a match that had a bearing on the decision to introduce tiebreaks.
Marin Cilic v Sam Querrey 2012 – 5 hours 31 minutes
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/10/19/2443315-50765035-2560-1440.jpg)
Marin Cilic needed over five hours to beat Sam Querrey in 2012
Image credit: PA Sport
Another battle of the big servers went the distance in the third round in 2012. Croatia’s Marin Cilic emerged triumphant, claiming it 7-6 (6) 6-4 6-7 (2) 6-7 (3) 17-15.
Greg Holmes v Todd Witsken 1989 – 5 hours 28 minutes
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/10/19/2443316-50765055-2560-1440.jpg)
Greg Holmes and Todd Witsken shared the longest ever match a SW19 until the Isner-Mahut classic
Image credit: PA Sport
This all-American battle in the second round was spread over two days due to bad light, though the last set was not as lengthy as others. Holmes triumphed 5–7 6–4 7-6 (5) 4–6 14–12.
Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal 2018 – 5 hours 15 minutes
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/10/19/2443317-50765075-2560-1440.jpg)
The Centre Court crowd were treated to an epic semi-final between Novak Djokovic, left, and Rafael Nadal
Image credit: PA Sport
If one marathon semi-final was not enough, 2018 threw up another as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal battled it out over the course of two days. Owing to Anderson and Isner’s slog, this match delayed the women’s final before the Serb eventually won 6-4 3-6 7-6 (9) 3-6 10-8.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement