The score looks like a typo: 70–68 in the fifth set. It isn’t. John Isner and Nicolas Mahut played the longest recorded professional tennis match at Wimbledon in 2010, spending 11 hours and 5 minutes on court across three days. Their match remains the clearest answer to the question of how long a five-set tennis match can last.
The longest five-set match: Isner vs. Mahut
American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut met in the first round at Wimbledon on June 22, 2010. Isner won 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7), 7–6(3), 70–68. The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes of playing time, with its final set alone running for 8 hours and 11 minutes.
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Players | John Isner and Nicolas Mahut |
| Tournament | Wimbledon, first round, 2010 |
| Final score | Isner def. Mahut, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7), 7–6(3), 70–68 |
| Total playing time | 11 hours, 5 minutes |
| Games played | 183, including 138 in the fifth set |
| Aces | 216 combined: 113 by Isner, 103 by Mahut |
The match began on June 22 and was stopped by darkness after four sets. When the players returned the next day, neither could take control of the deciding set. At 59–59, darkness stopped play again. They finished on June 24, when Isner finally broke through at 70–68.
The scale of the numbers tells only part of the story. These were two exceptionally tall players with big serves, and the grass court helped make those serves even more difficult to attack. When a player lands a strong first serve, the returner may have little chance to start a rally, let alone earn a break point. Both men kept holding serve for game after game. In a normal match, that pattern might last a set; here, it stretched on for hours.
The contest also became a test of focus and routine. Players had to keep preparing for each point after thousands of serves and returns, knowing that one loose game could decide a match already longer than any other. The crowd on Court 18 watched history take shape, while a scoreboard famously struggled to display the growing fifth-set score.
Why did the match go on so long?
In 2010, Wimbledon had no final-set tiebreak. After the first four sets, a player had to win the deciding set by at least two games. There was no upper limit, so if both players kept holding serve, the score could keep climbing. That rule made a marathon like Isner–Mahut possible.
The scoring system shaped the tactics, too. With such a strong serve, both players could aim to win quick points and protect their service games. The match was not 11 hours of continuous baseline rallies. It was a long sequence of games in which neither player could create enough pressure to finish the job—until Isner eventually did.
Isner’s next match offered a sharp contrast: he lost in straight sets to Thiemo de Bakker. That result is a reminder of the physical and mental cost of the record-breaker. Winning the longest match did not leave him fresh for the next round.
Other famous five-set marathons
Several other matches have pushed players close to their limits, though none has matched Isner and Mahut’s total playing time. These comparisons show why “longest” can mean more than one thing: a match can be especially long by time, by number of games, or by its place in a tournament.
| Match | Score | Duration | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isner vs. Mahut, Wimbledon 2010 | Isner won 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7), 7–6(3), 70–68 | 11:05 | Longest recorded professional match; 183 games |
| Isner vs. Anderson, Wimbledon 2018 | Anderson won 7–6(6), 6–7(5), 6–7(9), 6–4, 26–24 | 6:36 | Wimbledon semifinal decided by a 50-game final set |
| Santoro vs. Clément, French Open 2004 | Santoro won 6–4, 6–3, 6–7, 3–6, 16–14 | 6:33 | A clay-court endurance test and the longest match before Isner–Mahut |
| Djokovic vs. Nadal, Australian Open 2012 final | Djokovic won 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5), 7–5 | 5:53 | Longest Grand Slam final by playing time |
The 2018 Wimbledon semifinal between Isner and Kevin Anderson is a useful comparison. Anderson won after 6 hours and 36 minutes, with the deciding set ending 26–24. It was an extraordinary match, but still more than four hours shorter than Isner’s 2010 record-breaker.
Could a match like this happen today?
It is far less likely at the Grand Slams. Wimbledon introduced a deciding-set tiebreak at 12–12 in 2019. In 2022, the four Grand Slam tournaments adopted a shared rule: if the deciding set reaches 6–6, the players play a 10-point tiebreak, which a player must win by two points.
That rule prevents the final set from continuing indefinitely. A match can still be tense and lengthy, and a 10-point tiebreak can produce its own drama, but players cannot build a 70–68 score under the current Grand Slam format. Isner and Mahut’s record therefore also captures a particular moment in tennis history, when the old advantage-set rule left the door open to an extreme scoreline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the longest five-set tennis match ever played?
John Isner’s first-round match against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010 is the longest recorded professional match. Isner won in 11 hours and 5 minutes, with a final-set score of 70–68.
How many games were played in Isner–Mahut?
There were 183 games in total: 45 across the first four sets and 138 in the deciding set.
How many days did the match last?
The players competed over three days, from June 22 to June 24, 2010. Play was suspended twice because of darkness.
Can a tennis match still end 70–68?
Not at a Grand Slam under the current rules. If a deciding set reaches 6–6, a 10-point tiebreak now determines the winner.
Final Thoughts
Isner–Mahut is more than a striking scoreline. It shows how serving skill, the old final-set rules, and remarkable persistence combined to produce a match with no real precedent. The rules have changed, but the 70–68 finish remains a record—and a reminder of just how far a five-set match could stretch.
