Blog Posted on 07/04/2023 | Author: Karen Macarthur

Looking Back at the Longest Tennis Matches Ever Played

Tennis is a demanding sport that requires skill, accuracy and precision. In any tennis game, the gameplay action continues as long as a player scores the required number of points or opts to retire due to an injury or fatigue.

As such, it’s not uncommon for tennis fans to experience tennis games lasting several hours or even days. Here’s an article that explores the longest tennis match games in tennis history. Please stick with us!

John Isner Vs Nicolas Mahut (2010 Wimbledon, 11 hours 5 minutes)

A 2010 Wimbledon match between Isner and Mahut takes the top spot on our list of the longest tennis matches. It was June 22, 2010, when this riveting game began at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club.

After playing four sets, the gaming action was halted owing to the lack of natural sunlight. The match began as normal on the next day. But it was once again halted due to the absence of natural light. Finally, it was on June 24th that John won by a score of 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), and 70–68.

Yes, you read that right. The final set was 70 games to 68 games. The final set was a gruelling play that lasted over 8 hours. The whole match lasted for 11 hours and 5 minutes and saw a total of 183 games being played. This John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut kept tennis fans on the edge of their seats throughout the gameplay and experienced massive tennis betting action from tennis bettors worldwide.

Tomas Berdych/Lukas Rosol (CZE) Vs Stan Wawrinka/ Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) (2013 Davis Cup, 7 hours 1 minute)

This Tomas Berdych/Lukas Rosol Vs Stan Wawrinka/ Marco Chiudinelli game is the longest double match in the history of tennis doubles. Also, it is the longest game in the Davis Cup history. 

The match lasted for over seven hours and one minute. So, it’s no wonder that it would’ve been truly exhausting. The tennis double game was played at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland and saw both teams giving their best to clinch victory.

It was the duo of Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol, however, who got an advantage at the end of the gameplay. The final result 6-4,5-7,6-4,6-7,24-22 was in favour of the Czechs. This victory helped the Czechs in getting a 2-1 lead. Also, it was instrumental in the Czechs clinching the Davis Cup in 2013.

Kevin Anderson vs John Isner (2018 Wimbledon, 6:36 Hours)

The third longest tennis match in tennis history was a 2018 Wimbledon game between Kevin Anderson and John Isner. The gameplay action lasted for 6 hours and 36 minutes and saw Kevin Anderson winning the game by 7–6(8–6), 6–7(5–7), 6–7(9–11), 6–4, 26–24.

This Anderson vs Isner game is the longest semi-final played in tennis history. The two old college friends left no stone unturned in clinching a victory. But it was Kevin Anderson who had the last laugh in the Wimbledon game. As with the other top tennis matches, this tennis game also experienced a huge surge in online sports betting action at that time.

Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement (2004 French Open, 6:33 Hours)

This Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement clash took place at the French Open in 2004. The match, which was played in the first round of the tournament, saw Santoro coming out on top. The final result of the game was 6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 3–6, 16–14 on Santoro’s side.

After clinching a victory in the first round, Santoro registered a win in another 5-set match round. But in the third round, Santoro was defeated by his opponent. At that time, this Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement clash became the longest tennis ever played. A reference to this match can be found in several sports betting documentaries. 

Other longest tennis games listed

Apart from the games mentioned above, here’s a look at other long tennis matches in tennis history:

• John McEnroe vs Mats Wilander (1982 Davis Cup, 6:22 Hours)
• Boris Becker vs John McEnroe (1987 Davis Cup, 6:21 Hours)
• Jose Luis Clerc vs John McEnroe (1980 Davis Cup, 6:15 Hours)
• Horst Skoff vs Mats Wilander (1989 Davis Cup, 6:04 Hours)
• Harry Fritz vs Jorge Andrew (1982 Davis Cup, 6:01 Hours)
• Radek Stepanek vs Ivo Karlovic (2009 Davis Cup, 5:59 Hours)

So, this concludes our list of the longest tennis matches ever played. If you’re new to the world of sports betting and want to enjoy some tennis betting action, we suggest you check out our tennis betting guide. Have an enjoyable tennis betting experience there!