Tennis can be fast and furious – but sometimes, it turns into an epic battle of stamina, grit, and sheer willpower. Some matches go on so long that they break records, leaving both players and fans drained but amazed. In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 longest tennis matches ever played and explore what made them absolute epics, other than the time spent on court, of course!
The Longest Tennis Match In History
The longest tennis match in history was John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon 2010. The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days, with Isner eventually winning 70-68 in the fifth set. It set multiple records, including most games (183) and most aces (Isner 113, Mahut 103) in a match. It remains the longest match ever played in professional tennis.
The 10 Longest Tennis Matches in History
| Match | Duration | Event | Score |
| John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut | 11 hrs 5 mins | 2010 Wimbledon (R1) | 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68 |
| Tomas Berdych & Lukáš Rosol vs. Stanislas Wawrinka & Marco Chiudinelli | 7 hrs 1 min | 2013 Davis Cup (R1) | 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 24-22 |
| Leonardo Mayer vs. João Souza | 6 hrs 43 mins | 2015 Davis Cup (R1) | 7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 5-7, 15-13 |
| Kevin Anderson vs. John Isner | 6 hrs 36 mins | 2018 Wimbledon (SF) | 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24 |
| Fabrice Santoro vs. Arnaud Clément | 6 hrs 33 mins | 2004 French Open (R1) | 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 16-14 |
| Vicki Nelson vs Jean Hepner | 6 hrs 31 mins | 1984 Central Fidelity Banks International (R1) | 6-4, 7-6 |
| John McEnroe vs Mats Wilander | 6 hrs 22 mins | 1982 Davis Cup (QF) | 9-7, 6-2, 15-17, 3-6, 8-6 |
| Boris Becker vs John McEnroe | 6 hrs 21 mins | 1987 Davis Cup (PO) | 4-6, 15-13, 8-10, 6-2, 6-2 |
| Lucas Arnold Ker & David Nalbandian vs Yevgeny Kafelnikov & Marat Safin | 6 hrs 20 mins | 2002 Davis Cup (SF) | 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 19-17 |
| José Luis Clerc vs John McEnroe | 6 hrs 15 mins | 1980 Davis Cup (F) | 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 13-11 |
Let’s take a look at the five longest matches in a little more detail…
1. John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut, 2010 Wimbledon - 11 h 5 mins
It was the summer of 2010 at Wimbledon, and what was supposed to be an ordinary first‑round match turned into one of the greatest stories in tennis history. American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut walked onto Court 18 expecting a tough battle, but neither could have imagined they would be stepping into legend. For three days, the two men traded booming serves (John Isner has one of the fastest serves in history) and relentless holds, refusing to give an inch. The scoreline tells its own tale: 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68. In total, they fought for 11 hours and 5 minutes, smashing every record in the book: the longest match ever, the longest set (8 hours 11 minutes), the most games in a match (183), and the most aces in a match (Isner 113, Mahut 103).
Spectators packed into the small stands, television crews kept cutting back, and fans around the world followed in disbelief as the drama unfolded. Despite the exhaustion etched on their faces, both players displayed incredible sportsmanship, applauding each other’s efforts as the battle raged on. When Isner finally sealed victory, it was less about who won or lost and more about the shared endurance and spirit of the game. The match became so iconic that it even helped inspire rule changes, with Wimbledon introducing final‑set tiebreaks years later to prevent another such marathon.
2. Berdych/Rosol (CZE) vs Wawrinka/Chiudinelli (SUI), 2013 Davis Cup - 7 h 1 min
The longest doubles match ever played. The clash ended 24–22 in the fifth set, showing just how relentless Davis Cup tennis can be. Both teams fought with incredible determination, with the Czech pair eventually triumphing after more than seven hours of play. It turned out to be a crucial rubber, as the Czech Republic edged Switzerland 3–2 in the first round, a victory that inspired the team on their way to eventually winning the 2013 Davis Cup title.
3. Leonardo Mayer vs Joao Souza, 2015 Davis Cup - 6 h 43 mins
The second-longest singles match in tennis history and a true Davis Cup classic. Argentina’s Mayer eventually pulled through 15–13 in the fifth set against Brazil’s Souza. The atmosphere was electric, with fans creating a football-like environment as the two players battled deep into the night in Buenos Aires. This proved to be a vital rubber, as Argentina edged the home tie 3–2, before going on to reach the semifinals of the 2015 Davis Cup.
4. Kevin Anderson vs John Isner, 2018 Wimbledon - 6 h 36 mins
Another Wimbledon epic involving John Isner, this time in the semifinals of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships. However, it was his opponent Kevin Anderson who eventually prevailed 26–24 in the deciding set. Unfortunately, the match left Kevin Anderson exhausted for the final, which he lost to Novak Djokovic. This marathon helped trigger the rule change introducing final-set tiebreaks at Wimbledon.
5. Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement, 2004 French Open - 6 h 33 Mins
Two Frenchmen produced one of the longest Grand Slam duels in history at the 2004 French Open. Known for their grinding styles, the match became a war of attrition on the clay courts at Roland Garros. Santoro took the first two sets comfortably and came close to sealing the match in straight sets, but Clement managed to edge a third set tie break, take the fourth set and force a decider. They played late into the evening, until the match was then stopped due to low light. The two Frenchmen returned to court the day after, with Santoro eventually closing it out by 16-14.
Longest Women's Tennis Matches
The women’s game has also produced its fair share of tennis marathons. The longest women’s match in history took place back in 1984…
Vicki Nelson vs Jean Hepner, 1984 Richmond, Virginia - 6 H 31 mins
The longest women’s singles match in history. Played at the Central Fidelity Banks International, a small tournament in Richmond, Virginia, this contest became legendary not because of power or glamour, but because of its sheer patience and persistence. Nelson and Hepner produced a rally that lasted an astonishing 29 minutes and 643 shots, a record that still stands today. Points stretched endlessly as neither player was willing to go for winners, instead looping balls back and forth until one finally missed. That crazy thing is… Nelson won the match in straight sets by 6–4, 7–6!
Francesca Schiavone vs Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2011 Aus Open - 4 h 44 mins
However, the more famous match came at the 2011 Australian Open, when Francesca Schiavone defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–4, 1–6, 16–14 after 4 hours and 44 minutes of gripping, high-quality tennis. That match remains the longest women’s match ever played at a major, showing that while Nelson–Hepner was about attrition, Schiavone–Kuznetsova was about relentless shot-making and mental toughness under Grand Slam pressure.
Longest Best-of-Three Set Matches In Men's Tennis
Not all tennis marathons happen in five-set formats. Some of the longest matches in history came in best-of-three set competitions, proving that even shorter formats can produce epic struggles.
| # | Match | Event | Duration | Score |
| 1 | Roger Federer vs Juan Martín del Potro | 2012 Olympics (SF) | 4h 26m | 3–6, 7–6, 19–17 |
| 2 | Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic | 2009 Madrid Open (SF) | 4h 03m | 3–6, 7–6, 7–6 |
| 3 | Rafael Nadal vs Mariano Navone | 2024 Swedish Open (QF) | 4h 00m | 6–7, 7–5, 7–5 |
| 4 | Shang Juncheng vs Corentin Moutet | 2024 Madrid Open (1R) | 3h 59m | 6–7, 6–2, 7–6 |
| 5 | Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Milos Raonic | 2012 Olympics (2R) | 3h 57m | 6–3, 3–6, 25–23 |
| 6 | Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Moyá | 2008 Chennai Open (SF) | 3h 55m | 6–7, 7–6, 7–6 |
| 7 | Andrei Cherkasov vs Andrea Gaudenzi | 1993 Tel Aviv Open (QF) | 3h 54m | 6–7, 7–6, 7–5 |
| 8 | Thiago Seyboth Wild vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | 2020 Rio Open (1R) | 3h 50m | 5–7, 7–6, 7–5 |
| 9 | Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz | 2023 Cincinnati Open (F) | 3h 49m | 5–7, 7–6, 7–6 |
| 10 | Tomás Martín Etcheverry vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer | 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers (Q1) | 3h 49m | 7–5, 2–6, 7–6 |
The 2012 Olympics featured two of the longest best-of-three set matches in history, despite being played on the grass courts at Wimbledon. As one of the faster surfaces on tour, grass courts usually lead to shorter rallies and faster matches overall. However, it is generally more difficult to break serve on grass.
Longest Match at Each Grand Slam
| Grand Slam | Players & Round | Duration | Score |
| 2012 Australian Open | Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal (Final) | 5 hrs 53 mins | 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 |
| 2004 French Open | Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clément (1R) | 6 hrs 33 mins | 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 16-14 |
| 2010 Wimbledon | John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut (1R) | 11 hrs 5 mins | 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68 |
| 2024 US Open | Dan Evans vs Karen Khachanov (1R) | 5 hrs 35 mins | 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 |
The Longest Grand Slam Finals
| Grand Slam | Match | Duration | Score |
| 2012 Australian Open | Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal | 5 hrs 53 mins | 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 |
| 2025 French Open | Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner | 5 hrs 29 mins | 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2019 Wimbledon | Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer | 4 hrs 57 mins | 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12 |
| 2012 US Open | Andy Murray vs Novak Djokovic* | 4 hrs 54 mins | 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 |
Two matches are currently tied for the longest US Open Final record. The 2012 US Open final between Andy Murray & Novak Djokovic is the most recent, though the 1988 US Open Final which saw Mats Wilander defeat Ivan Lendl by 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 also lasted 4 hrs and 54 mins.
Why DO Tennis Matches Last So Long?
Tennis matches can stretch for hours due to the Advantage Set format, where the final set must be won by two clear games without a tie-break.
Sadly, recent changes to the scoring system which have seen the introduction of the 10-point match tie break at 6-6 in the fifth set at Grand Slams means it’s likely these records will never be broken again. Nevertheless, fifth set tie breaks do seem to add a certain drama to matches and has already delivered some of the greatest matches in tennis history.
FAQs - The Longest Tennis Matches
And to finish things off, here are answers to some of the most common FAQs relating to the longest tennis matches:
What was Djokovic's longest tennis match?
Novak Djokovic’s longest tennis match was his victory over Rafael Nadal in the 2012 Australian Open final, which lasted an impressive 5 hours 53 minutes. The final score was 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in favour of Djokovic. It also happens to be the longest Grand Slam final in history.
What is the longest women's tennis match at a Grand Slam?
The longest women’s tennis match at Grand Slam level took place in the 2011 Australian Open fourth round, when Francesca Schiavone defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova by 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 in 4 hours and 44 minutes.
What is the longest match between Federer and Nadal?
The longest match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was their 5 hour 5 minute meeting in the 2006 ATP Master Rome final, which eventually went the way of Nadal by 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5).
Marathon matches are part of what makes tennis so unpredictable and thrilling. They test the limits of human endurance and create stories fans will never forget. While not every match will last 11 hours, the possibility of witnessing a record-breaking battle is one of the many reasons we love this sport.
