The scoreboard at Wimbledon in 2010 seemed to have stopped making sense: 59 games apiece in the deciding set, and still no winner. John Isner and Nicolas Mahut eventually played on until one of them led by two games. Their first-round match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, making it the longest professional tennis match by time on record.
The record: Isner vs. Mahut at Wimbledon
Isner, an American, and Mahut, a French qualifier, began their match on June 22, 2010. They finished it two days later, on June 24. Wimbledon matches were played without a deciding-set tiebreak at the time, so the fifth set could continue indefinitely until someone gained a two-game lead.
That rule turned a close match into a test of nerve and stamina. Isner and Mahut held serve again and again, with neither able to create the break that would end the contest. They reached 6-6 in the fifth set, then 20-20, 40-40 and far beyond. When Isner finally broke Mahut to win 70-68, the fifth set alone had lasted more than eight hours.
| Match detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Players | John Isner def. Nicolas Mahut |
| Tournament | 2010 Wimbledon, first round |
| Final score | 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68 |
| Elapsed match time | 11 hours, 5 minutes |
| Total games | 183 |
| Aces | 216 combined |
The match was spread across three days because play was suspended for darkness. The pauses were part of the elapsed time, so 11 hours and 5 minutes does not mean the players were continuously hitting balls for that long. Even allowing for breaks, it was an extraordinary amount of tennis: the match set records for both total games and combined aces.
Why did the match go on for so long?
The key was the combination of two powerful servers and a format with no final-set tiebreak. Isner stood 6 feet 10 inches tall and could deliver a serve that was difficult to attack. Mahut also served exceptionally well. On grass, where the ball tends to stay low and fast, a strong serve can make it hard for the returner to get into a rally at all.
That pattern held for much of the fifth set. Each player had to find a way to protect his service game while knowing that one loose point might decide a match that had already lasted for hours. They kept producing aces and winning their service games under pressure. Neither could build the two-game advantage required to finish.
The eventual numbers give a sense of the scale: 183 games and 216 aces between them. The score alone can be misleading, though. Isner did not win the fifth set by 70 games to 68 because he dominated it; he won because, after dozens of holds, he finally secured the decisive break.
How it compares with other marathon matches
Isner-Mahut remains the overall record, but other matches help put its length in perspective. The 2018 Wimbledon semifinal between Isner and Kevin Anderson lasted 6 hours and 36 minutes, making it another famously long match under the old Wimbledon format. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s 2012 Australian Open final lasted 5 hours and 53 minutes, a record-length Grand Slam final at the time.
| Match | Duration | Why it is notable |
|---|---|---|
| John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut, Wimbledon 2010 | 11 hours, 5 minutes | Longest professional match by elapsed time; 183 games |
| John Isner vs. Kevin Anderson, Wimbledon 2018 | 6 hours, 36 minutes | One of the longest Grand Slam matches; fifth set ended 26-24 |
| Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal, Australian Open 2012 | 5 hours, 53 minutes | Longest Grand Slam final by duration |
| Vicki Nelson-Dunbar vs. Jean Hepner, 1984 | Often reported as 6 hours, 31 minutes | Frequently cited as the longest women’s match by elapsed time |
These records are not all the same kind. The Isner-Mahut match is the longest overall by elapsed time. Djokovic-Nadal is remembered as a record-setting final, while the Nelson-Dunbar and Hepner contest is commonly cited as the women’s duration record. Match-time figures can also be reported differently depending on whether a source counts the same intervals and stoppages.
What changed after Isner-Mahut?
The match renewed debate about whether an advantage set should be allowed to continue without a tiebreak. Supporters valued the old rule’s demand for a clear two-game margin. Critics pointed to the physical strain, scheduling problems and the possibility of a match stretching across several days.
Wimbledon introduced a final-set tiebreak at 12-12 in 2019. From 2022, the four Grand Slam tournaments adopted a shared approach: if the deciding set reaches 6-6, the players contest a 10-point tiebreak, which a player must win by two points. That makes another Isner-Mahut-length match at a Grand Slam very unlikely, though long matches can still happen.
The record also says something about tennis beyond the rules. Isner and Mahut had to keep serving, moving and focusing through repeated moments that could have been the last. Their match was not simply a contest of fitness; it was a sustained exercise in concentration and routine, with every service game carrying the same immediate pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the longest tennis match ever played by time?
John Isner’s first-round match against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010 is the longest professional match by elapsed time. It lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days.
What was the score in the Isner-Mahut match?
Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68. The fifth set had no tiebreak, so play continued until Isner led by two games.
How many games were played?
The match contained 183 games, including 138 in the fifth set. The players also hit 216 aces combined.
Could a match that long happen at Wimbledon now?
It is extremely unlikely. Wimbledon now uses a deciding-set tiebreak at 6-6, as do the other Grand Slam tournaments. That prevents a final set from continuing game after game without a tiebreak.
Final Thoughts
The answer to “longest tennis match by time” is Isner versus Mahut: 11 hours and 5 minutes, played over three days at Wimbledon in 2010. Its 70-68 fifth set became one of tennis’s most memorable scores, and the match helped prompt changes to Grand Slam deciding-set rules. The record stands as a remarkable chapter in the sport—and a reminder of just how much pressure can fit into a single service game.
