Longest tennis match: A list of the 10 longest tennis showdowns in history of the sport

Tennis is considered an iconic sport, especially when you know your way around those courts. Over the decades, legendary athletes have emerged, and a lot can be said about each and their well-decorated careers. Fans have pondered over some of the longest tennis matches in history for so long.

Often described as one of the most physically intensive sports in the world, tennis is quite often an engaging one to watch. Moreover, which tennis fan would miss a taste of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Thanasi Kokkinakis? However, the question of the day is, how long was the longest tennis match ever played?

Top 10 longest tennis matches of all time

The men's longest tennis game was notably played between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in the first round of the men's singles at the 2010 Wimbledon. It is regarded as one of the longest tennis matches as of 2023.

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According to an in-depth analysis, SportsBrief has compiled a list showcasing some of the longest tennis matches ever played in the sport's history.

10. Jose Luis Clerc vs John McEnroe

Jose Luis and John McEnroe had their tournament during one of the most significant international competitive events in men's tennis, the Davis Cup. In 1980, the 69th edition of the Davis Cup saw Australia, Argentina, Italy, and Czechoslovakia emerge as the winners in each zone.

During the two legendary tennis players' event, Jose Luis Clerc, often dubbed Batata, won the tournament and played full-time until 1995, when he finally retired.

9. Lucas Arnold Ker and David Nalbandian vs Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin

At the beginning of the double's tournament, Argentine tennis players David Nalbandian and Lucas Arnold Ker seemed to have had their Russian opponents on their necks when they won the first two sets.

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However, the Russian players Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin made a slight comeback during the third and fourth sets, putting up enough resistance to draw out the match for 36 complete games.

8. Boris Becker vs John McEnroe

The two well-decorated tennis players, Boris Becker, and John McEnroe, sit in the eighth position. The two pulled one competitive energy the sport had never experienced during their game. Even though the second set of the 1987 Davis Cup World Group Relegation Play-offs lasted for 2 hours and 35 minutes, many fans claimed the second set was a critical turning point.

These claims were made following John McEnroe's momentum loss during the match's third set. Could it be because the tennis match was played on an indoor carpet rather than the court?

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7. John McEnroe vs Mats Wilander

Even though John McEnroe lost to Boris Becker in the 1987 Davis Cup, he had proudly taken the 1982 Davis Cup after his nearly 6-and-half-hour game against his Swedish-based opponent Mats Wilander.

McEnroe stated that after losing to Jimmy Connor in the Wimbledon Final, his Davis Cup win was an excellent way to overcome his disappointment. However, most of the fans left unsatisfied, claiming that the match had dragged on too long and begun to bring boredom.

6. Vicki Nelson vs Jean Hepner

The 1984 Central Fidelity Banks International tournament between Vicki Nelson and Jean Hepner is still one of the longest single matches in the history of women's tennis. In fact, the match's 29-minute 643-shot rally was also the longest in the history of professional tennis.

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The whole tournament was part of the 1984 Virginia Slims World Championship Series. It took around an hour and 47 minutes for the legendary athletes to finish a tiebreaker. It is still one of the longest US Open tennis matches ever seen.

5. Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement

The renowned tennis players Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement sit in the fifth position. Their match was the first ever to be played in the 2004 French Open and became the longest-recorded tennis match in the Open Era.

When Fabrice Santoro was asked if he knew he had just played a record-breaking match, he claimed not to know or care at that moment because he never thought he would make history.

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4. Kevin Anderson vs John Isner

Kevin Anderson was the first South African player to ever reach a Wimbledon final in 97 years upon winning the tournament. However, he notably seemed less excited about the entire match.

As a result, his fans speculated that it was due to pity for his opponent and sheer exhaustion. But even though he won the match, he claimed that his opponent was so good that he thought it would have ended up being a draw.

3. Leonardo Mayer vs Joao Souza

The third longest tennis game in one day is between Leonardo Mayer and Joao Souza. Most of the fans were sure enough that no matter how long the game took, Leonardo would merge the winner of the match.

The payer debuted in the tennis arena when he was just nine years old, and his keen interest took him to victory in the longest Davis Cup singles match in the sport's history.

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2. Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol vs Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli

Another double game on the list was between Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol vs Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli. The game was held in Geneva on indoor courts, and it was the longest doubles match in the history of the Davis Cup.

The Czech Republic brought the win home thanks to their legendary players, Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol.

How long was the longest tennis match?

Fans have repeatedly wondered how long the longest tennis match ever recorded took. The game in Grand Slam history occurred at Wimbledon, thus making it the longest match in tennis history.

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1. John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut

Josh Isner and Nicolas Mahut played the longest tennis match at Wimbledon. The historic game in 2010 on Court 18 at Wimbledon lasted eleven hours and five minutes.

The first round of the game started on 22 June and lasted for three days. Even though Nicolas Mahut did not emerge as the winner, he claimed that the game was highly historical and did not matter who won or lost.

The longest tennis match recorded in history featured five sets played in three days. Talk about passion and commitment. You sure have John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, who today hold the record of playing one of the longest tennis matches in history.

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