In 2010, Wimbledon became the stage for an extraordinary testament to athletic endurance. On Court 18, American John Isner and French qualifier Nicolas Mahut engaged in what remains the longest tennis match in history—lasting a staggering 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. The final set alone extended to a surreal 70–68, surpassing previous records and setting a new bar for resilience in sport.
Beyond its duration, the match produced remarkable statistical feats. Isner served a world-record 113 aces—a benchmark even Mahut surpassed with 103 aces—while the pair combined for an unprecedented 183 games played across the event. Officials suspended play twice due to fading daylight, turning the contest into a multi-day saga that captured global attention and even prompted Wimbledon to review its final-set rules.
Although tennis has seen many grueling battles since, few have eclipsed the sheer magnitude of this Wimbledon epic. The Isner–Mahut marathon remains a defining demonstration of human endurance, reshaping how we view both player stamina and the framework of competitive tennis. It’s a record that stands not just for its length, but for the drama and legacy it left behind.
