24 Jun 2010

Singles match not over yet at Wimbledon

2:53 pm on 24 June 2010

The American John Isner and Nicolas Mahut of France have rewritten the record books as their epic first-round contest at Wimbledon became the longest in tennis history.

The match was locked at 59-59 in the final set after 10 hours of play when it was suspended because of bad light.

The decision meant that, incredibly, the contest would go into a third day, having been called off at two sets all the day before for the same reason.

Isner, with 98, and Mahut, 95 have also both smashed the previous record for the most aces.

The previous longest match was at the French Open in 2004, when Fabrice Santoro beat Arnaud Clement after six hours and 35 minutes.