Isner–Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships

The match took place during the 2010 edition of the 13-day Wimbledon Championships, held every June and July. Mahut, who was not ranked high enough to qualify for the tournament automatically, earned his place by winning in the qualifying pre-tournament, where he was seeded 27th. He played three qualification rounds, beating Frank Dancevic 6–3, 6–0, in the first round, then Alex Bogdanovic 3–6, 6–3, 24–22, and finally Stefan Koubek in five sets, 6–7(8), 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4.{{cite web|title=Wimbledon 2010 Gentlemen's Qualifying Singles|url=http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/draws/qs/qsdraw.pdf|work=2010.wimbledon.org|access-date=27 October 2010}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Having played through the qualifying stage, Mahut was drawn against Isner in the first round of the Men's Singles. Their match was scheduled for Court 18, one of the larger outer courts at Wimbledon.

File:Isner-Mahut score card.jpg

The match started on the tournament's second day, 22 June. As in all men's Grand Slam matches, the match was played as best of five sets.{{cite web|title=2010 Official Grand Slam Rulebook|url=http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/pdf/original/io_46486_original.pdf|publisher=ITF|access-date=11 January 2013|archive-date=16 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916062806/http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/pdf/original/IO_46486_original.PDF|url-status=dead}} In the first four sets of a match, a tiebreaker is used to decide a tied set; however, as of 2010, this did not apply in the fifth set except at the US Open. Thus, in the event of a tie in the fifth set, the players would continue to play the set until one of them led by two games.

The first four sets passed without significant incident. Isner won the first set 6–4, breaking Mahut's serve in the ninth game of the set after Mahut had twice double faulted. Mahut took the second set 6–3, having broken Isner's serve to love in the second game of the set. The third and fourth sets had no breaks of serve and were both decided by tiebreaks, with Mahut winning the third set tiebreak 9–7, and Isner winning the fourth set tiebreak 7–3, leaving the score at two sets each. At the end of the fourth set, the match was halted due to darkness.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49585120100623|title=Isner-Mahut epic leaves Wimbledon lost for words|first=Pritha|last=Sarkar|newspaper=Reuters|date=23 June 2010|via=www.reuters.com}}

Resuming on {{Nowrap|23 June}}, it soon became the longest match ever. Isner failed to convert four match points on this day, the first when Mahut was serving at 9–10, the second and third when Mahut was serving at 32–33, and the fourth in the dramatic last game that they played at 58–59 on {{Nowrap|23 June}}, with Mahut initially serving up 40–15 for the hold. Mahut also failed to convert two break points on Isner's serve, at 50–50. The match was suspended for a second time because of darkness on the evening of {{Nowrap|23 June}} at 59–59 in the fifth set despite chants of "We want more, we want more" from the spectators.{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49587820100623 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626053227/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49587820100623 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 June 2010 |title=Isner-Mahut epic leaves Wimbledon lost for words |publisher=In.reuters.com |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=24 June 2010}}

Isner drank a "recovery shake" and took an ice bath. Fellow American Andy Roddick brought take-out food for him and his coach, including "three boxes of pizza, all sorts of chicken and mashed potatoes"; Isner said later that he was so hungry he "could have eaten 12 Big Macs", but reported that drinking coconut water helped him rehydrate and avoid the cramping that he had experienced in the past.Pucin, Diane. "[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/06/wimbledon-no-doubles-for-isner-but-props-for-coconut-water.html Wimbledon: No doubles for John Isner but props for coconut water]" Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2010. He slept for less than four hours before rising. Mahut also slept for only a few hours, and had a cold bath and a massage.Atkin, Ronald. "[http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/articles/2010-06-24/201006241277407979788.html Marathon man Isner reveals Roddick's pizza role] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626215350/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/articles/2010-06-24/201006241277407979788.html |date=26 June 2010 }}" wimbledon.org, 24 June 2010. The next morning, the BBC reported that Mahut had been practising and Andy Murray informed them that Isner had been running on a treadmill before play resumed.

The match was resumed on {{Nowrap|24 June}}, and both players continued to dominate their service games. With Isner serving at 68–68, Mahut went up 0–30, but Isner won 4 points in a row to hold serve. At 68–69, with Mahut serving at 15–15, Mahut netted a drop shot that would likely have won the point. Isner, far back in the court at the time, later said that he would not have had the energy to chase after that shot. At 30–30, Isner passed Mahut at the net with a difficult inside-out forehand from the middle of the court that landed just inside the line. This brought up Isner's fifth match point (his first on 24 June) and his 14th break point of the match, which Isner converted with a down-the-line backhand passing shot. Thus, after 67 minutes of play on the third day of the match, Isner won the deciding final set, 70–68. The entire match over the 3 days lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes. This new world record for the longest match ever was 4 hours and 32 minutes longer than the previous record, the first-round match between Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clément at the 2004 French Open, which had lasted 6 hours, 33 minutes.

The chair umpire throughout the match was the Swedish official Mohamed Lahyani.{{cite news|last=Hodgkinson|first=Mark|title= Murray finds Greek too hot to handle|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/2339830/Murray-finds-Greek-too-hot-to-handle.html|access-date=24 June 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=4 July 2006 | location=London}} Lahyani said afterwards that he was so "gripped by the amazing match" that his concentration stayed solid and he did not think about eating or going to the toilet.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon10/news/story?id=5323992 |title=Lahyani presides over longest match |publisher=ESPN |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=1 June 2014}} On the second day of the match, two groups of 14 linespeople and four groups of 28 ballboys and ballgirls were used in a rotation.{{cite news |title=Logistics Are Put to the Test at Wimbledon |author=John Martin |work=The New York Times |date=23 June 2010 |url=http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/logistics-are-put-to-the-test-at-wimbledon/ }} At the end of the match, Lahyani announced the score incorrectly, accidentally switching the scores of the two tie-break sets.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/wimbledon/8757404.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Isner finally wins marathon match | date=23 June 2010}}

On the second day of play, the courtside scoreboard stood still at 47–47 and later went dark. IBM programmers said it was only programmed to go to 47–47 but would be fixed by the next day. The online scoreboard at the official website lasted slightly longer; it was reset at 50–50. Users were asked to "please add 50 to the Isner/Mahut game score".{{cite web |title=John Isner and Nicolas Mahut Marathon Match Suspended for Darkness at Wimbledon |author=Michael Hurley |work=NESN.com |publisher=New England Sports Network |date=23 June 2010 |url=http://www.nesn.com/2010/06/john-isner-nicolas-mahut-locked-in-marathon-match-at-wimbledon.html }} An IBM programmer worked on a hotfix for the scoring system until {{Nowrap|11:45 p.m.}} to accommodate the match's scores for the next day, although it would have again malfunctioned had the match gone beyond 25 more games.Martin, John. "[http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/live-analysis-isner-mahut-to-resume-historic-match/?src=mv Scoreboard tuneup]" The New York Times, {{Nowrap|24 June}} 2010.

File:Isner-Mahut-Lahyani next to scoreboard.jpg

Immediately after the match, both players and the umpire were presented with a crystal bowl and champagne flutes by Tim Henman and Ann Haydon-Jones on behalf of the All England Club, as special recognition of the match. The players were then interviewed on court by John Inverdale, before a photocall for the press alongside one of the two Court 18 scoreboards showing the score.{{cite web|url=http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/articles/2010-06-24/201006241277400739521.html|title=Miserable Mahut forced to grin and bear it|publisher=wimbledon.org|date=24 June 2010|access-date=25 June 2010|archive-date=26 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626215345/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/articles/2010-06-24/201006241277400739521.html|url-status=dead}} Mahut subsequently donated memorabilia from the match for display at the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Museum in Newport, Rhode Island.[http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2010/06/Other/Newport-Mahut-Receives-Wild-Card.aspx "Mahut Receives Wild Card to Compete in Newport"]. ATP World Tour. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.

On 14 July, Isner and Mahut were jointly awarded the 2010 ESPY Award for "Best Record-Breaking Performance", beating fellow nominees Roger Federer and Usain Bolt. Isner accepted the award in Los Angeles on behalf of both men.[http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2010/07/Other/ESPY-Awards-Isner-Mahut-Win.aspx "Isner & Mahut Win ESPY Award For Best Record-Breaking Performance"]. ATP World Tour. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

In addition, the AELTC placed a plaque commemorating the match at Court 18.{{cite news|url=http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2011-05-27/201105271306517303402.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626030203/http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2011-05-27/201105271306517303402.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2018|author=Alexandra Willis|work=All England Club|publisher=Wimbledon.com|date=27 May 2011|title=A new Show Court at Wimbledon}} Time named this match one of the Top 10 Sports Moments of 2010.{{cite magazine|last=Gregory|first=Sean|title=The Top 10 Everything of 2010 – The Three-Day Duel at Wimbledon|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2034243_2034231,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213021237/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2034243_2034231,00.html|url-status=live|archive-date=13 December 2010|magazine=Time|access-date=14 December 2011|date=9 December 2010}}

As the winner, Isner advanced to the second round where, on the day following the conclusion of his match with Mahut, he played Thiemo de Bakker on 25 June at {{nowrap|12 pm}} on Court 5.[http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule12.html Schedule of Play] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828004907/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule12.html |date=28 August 2010 }} The match was originally scheduled for 24 June but was postponed due to the continuance of Isner's first-round match against Mahut. De Bakker also had a lengthy first-round match against Santiago Giraldo, winning by a score of 16–14 in the fifth set, but unlike Isner, he had a day off before his second-round match. Isner lost to De Bakker 0–6, 3–6, 2–6 in just 74 minutes. It was the shortest men's Wimbledon match at that point in 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20100626/SPORTS18/6260364/1066/Marathon-man-John-Isner-loses-short-match-in-Wimbledon |title=Marathon man John Isner loses short match in Wimbledon |publisher=Freep.com |access-date=8 July 2013}} and Isner failed to serve a single ace.[http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day12/1230ms.html Match Statistics, Thiemo De Bakker – John Isner] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629143315/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day12/1230ms.html |date=29 June 2010 }}. Isner was visibly exhausted and required medical treatment for neck and shoulder problems throughout the match.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8762483.stm|title=Wimbledon 2010: John Isner thrashed by Thiemo De Bakker|author=David Ornstein|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 June 2010|access-date=25 June 2010}}

Isner was also due to play a doubles match with his partner Sam Querrey on 24 June (against Michał Przysiężny and Dudi Sela), but it was postponed to 25 June. Isner's doubles match was tentatively scheduled as the second match of that day on Court 19 following another men's doubles match; however, they withdrew from the doubles because Isner had a blister on his toe. After being eliminated from the tournament, Isner said, "I'll watch sports, I'll take in the World Cup, I'll go fishing, I'll do whatever. Just anything away from the tennis court."

As for Mahut, his doubles match with partner Arnaud Clément against Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski started late in the evening on 24 June (also on Court 18); the match was suspended after Mahut and Clément had lost the first set. On 25 June, Mahut/Clément – Fleming/Skupski was scheduled as the fourth match on Court 18 because Clément had a third-round singles match on Centre Court against Roger Federer.{{cite web|url=http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule12.html |title=Schedule of Play (Day 5) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828004907/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule12.html |archive-date=28 August 2010 }} Because the match between Daniel Brands and Victor Hănescu lasted almost 3 hours, 30 minutes and ended around 8:45 pm local time,{{cite web |url=http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day12/1304ms.html |title=Match Statistics of Brands-Hanescu match |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619001947/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day12/1304ms.html |archive-date=19 June 2011 }} the doubles match was postponed again; it was rescheduled as the first match on Court 14 on 26 June.{{cite web|url=http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule13.html |title=Schedule of Play(Day 6) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828004912/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule13.html |archive-date=28 August 2010 }} On resumption, Fleming/Skupski defeated Mahut/Clément, 7–6, 6–4, 3–6, 7–6.

The two next met at the 2011 Hopman Cup exhibition in Perth. Isner broke in the opening game to record a win in straight sets.{{cite web |url=http://hopmancup.com/history/past-results/hopman-cup-2011-xxiii |title=Hopman Cup 2011 (XXIII) – History – Hyundai Hopman Cup |access-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302164808/http://hopmancup.com/history/past-results/hopman-cup-2011-xxiii |archive-date=2 March 2017 |url-status=dead }} They met again at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, again in the first round. The odds of the unseeded players meeting in another first round match was 1 in 142.{{cite web|url=http://www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2011/06/17/what-are-the-odds-isner-mahut-redux |title=What are the Odds: Isner-Mahut Redux|date=17 June 2011|publisher=tennisabstract.com|access-date=18 October 2017}} Isner won "Isner–Mahut II" in straight sets (7–6, 6–2, 7–6), in 2 hours and 3 minutes.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jun/21/wimbledon-john-isner-nicolas-mahut|title=Wimbledon 2011: John Isner beats Nicolas Mahut in the abridged version|work=The Guardian|first=Barney|last=Ronay|date=21 June 2011|access-date=15 September 2012}}

Former players and commentators have called the match historic and unlikely to happen again; many also praised both participants. John McEnroe said, "This is the greatest advertisement for our sport. It makes me proud to be a part of it. We often don't get the respect we deserve in tennis for the athletic demands it places on players, but this should push that respect way up".{{cite web |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/john-isner-nicolas-mahut-make-history-with-wimbledon-epic-062310 |title=John Isner, Nicolas Mahut make history at Wimbledon – News – FOX Sports on MSN |publisher=Msn.foxsports.com |access-date=24 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626104049/http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/john-isner-nicolas-mahut-make-history-with-wimbledon-epic-062310 |archive-date=26 June 2010 }}

Other players, former players, officials, media commentators and fans also praised the behaviour of both players. Roger Federer said of the match, "It's so impressive to see. I mean, I was watching this. I don't know if I was crying or laughing. It was too much".{{cite news | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/espntennis | title=Ten times unbelievable | last=Tandon | first=Kamakshi | publisher=ESPN | date=23 June 2010 | access-date=27 June 2010 }} Federer also added, "This is absolutely amazing. [...] This is beyond anything". Novak Djokovic extolled both players, saying, "You have to give them credit, both of them. Whoever wins today, I think both of them are winners".

Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim said that the victory might give Isner a self-esteem boost.Wertheim, Jon. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20100630032551/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/06/25/wimbledon.june25/ Projecting Isner's future; Henin's promising present]" Sports Illustrated, 25 June 2010. McEnroe speculated, however, that the match might have shortened Isner and Mahut's careers by six months.Kitson, Robert. "[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jun/25/wimbledon-john-isner-thiemo-de-bakker Wimbledon 2010: Marathon man John Isner beaten in double-quick time]" The Guardian, 25 June 2010. A sports surgeon said the players had risked dehydration, hyperthermia, and kidney damage during the long match, and that one or both might suffer "some sort of injury or persistent problem over the next six months [...] shoulder problems, tendonitis, and recurrent knee problems", as well as the inability to "get into a groove" mentally for up to a year.Mackay, Gordon. "[http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Gordon-Mackay-Heroic-duo-John.6383765.jp Heroic duo John Isner and Nicolas Mahut now face injury risks]" The Scotsman, 25 June 2010. Mahut revealed that following the match, he spent three months suffering from depression and a back injury.Robson, Douglas. [https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2011-06-10-wimbledon-marathon-match-a-year-later_n.htm "Isner-Mahut Wimbledon marathon never really ends"]. USA Today, 10 June 2011

Mahut shared his experiences on the match in the book Le match de ma vie (The Match of My Life), which he co-wrote with Philippe Bouin. The book was published in 2011.{{cite book|title=Le match de ma vie: Amazon.co.uk: Nicolas Mahut, Philippe Bouin: Books |id={{ASIN|2916400672|country=uk}} }}{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/8582703/Wimbledon-2011-John-Isner-v-Nicolas-Mahut-the-story-of-an-epic-clash.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Simon | last=Briggs | title=Wimbledon 2011: John Isner v Nicolas Mahut – the story of an epic clash | date=17 June 2011}}

In October 2018, three months after another marathon match featuring Isner – this time against Kevin Anderson in the semifinals of 2018 Wimbledon, which Anderson won 7–6^(8–6), 6–7^(5–7), 6–7^(9–11), 6–4, 26–24 after 6 hours and 36 minutes, the All England Club announced that Wimbledon would be introducing a rule change to prevent such long matches occurring in the future. From 2019 to 2021, tie breaks were to be played at Wimbledon if the final set score reached 12–all. This point was determined following a review of matches in the previous 20 tournaments and a consultation with players and officials.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/45913728|title=Wimbledon: Final set tie-breaks to be introduced in 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 October 2018|access-date=19 October 2018}} The rule was first used in the singles in the 2019 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, after their fifth set ended that way.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48981518|title=Djokovic beats Federer in Wimbledon epic|publisher=BBC Sport}} In 2022, it was announced that all Grand Slam tournaments (and even the Olympics) would collectively trial a new 10-point tie-break where scores reach 6–6 in the final set; prior to this, the French Open had been the last tournament to exclude tie-breaks from the final set.

Wimbledon had planned to recognize the players on the 10th anniversary of the match, but was unable to do so owing to their decision to cancel the 2020 Wimbledon Championships in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Wimbledon posted video coverage of the match in its entirety on its YouTube channel.{{cite web|url=http://www.tennis-tourtalk.com/56476/isner-mahut-now-you-can-re-live-tenniss-longest-match|title=Isner-Mahut: Now You Can Re-live Tennis's Longest Match|date=5 April 2020|publisher=Tennis TourTalk|access-date=29 June 2020|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630201415/http://www.tennis-tourtalk.com/56476/isner-mahut-now-you-can-re-live-tenniss-longest-match|url-status=dead}} In lieu of an in-person reunion, John Isner and Nicolas Mahut celebrated their anniversary via social networks. Isner joked about Mahut's hairstyle: "Nicolas Mahut, I can't believe it's been 10 years. Your hair hasn't moved an inch yet!" For his part, Mahut replied: "Happy birthday friend John Isner. We should take some time together to remember that amazing story."{{cite web|url=https://www.lalasport.com/2020/06/ten-years-of-isner-mahut-longest-game.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630164416/https://www.lalasport.com/2020/06/ten-years-of-isner-mahut-longest-game.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=30 June 2020|title=Ten years of Isner-Mahut, the longest game in history|date=23 June 2020|publisher=lalasport|access-date=29 June 2020}}

The chorus of Dan Bern's song about the match concludes with the scores of the five sets: "six–four, three–six, six–seven, seven–six, seventy–sixty-eight". An a cappella performance of "Isner & Mahut" recorded in 2010 appears on Bern's album Live in New York.16. Isner & Mahut – Dan Bern (with Common Rotation and Paul Kuhn) https://music.apple.com/us/album/live-in-new-york/416172775?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

HBO released a mockumentary in 2015 titled 7 Days in Hell, starring Andy Samberg and Kit Harington as two professional tennis players who face off in what becomes the longest match in history. The match takes place at Wimbledon in 2001. The film was inspired by the Isner–Mahut match{{cite web|publisher=Grantland|first=Dave|last=Schilling|url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/qa-andy-samberg-talks-hbos-7-days-in-hell-sports-documentaries-and-jon-snow|title=Q&A: Andy Samberg Talks HBO's '7 Days in Hell,' Sports Documentaries, and Jon Snow|date=10 July 2015|access-date=16 July 2015}} and included former and current professional tennis players in cameo roles playing themselves, including John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Serena Williams.

This match also has a mention in Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer's 2016 song "Open String" from the album There's a Rumpus Going On.Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer – Open String https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz6rHAAuLWs

The 2018 novel Chance to BreakPrell, Owen (2018). Chance to Break, North Loop Books. {{ISBN| 1545619263}}. by Owen Prell builds its narrative climax around the Isner–Mahut match.

An episode of SB Nation's Rewinder on 9 July 2022, focuses on the match and the background and context as to how it happened.{{Citation |title=The longest tennis match, an 11-hour Wimbledon ultramarathon over 3 days, deserves a deep rewind | date=9 July 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyrkjJOlNnE |language=en |access-date=9 July 2022}}

The match set at least eleven tennis records:

• Longest match (11 hours, 5 minutes).
• Longest set (the fifth set required 8 hours, 11 minutes). This set alone would have broken the previous record for longest match.
• Longest play in a match on a single day (7 hr 4 min was played on day 2). This part of set 5 alone would have broken the previous record for longest match.
• Most games in a set (138 in the fifth set).
• Most games in a match (183).
• Most aces in a match by one player (Isner, 113).{{cite web |url=http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Match-Facts-Pop-Up.aspx?t=540&y=2010&r=1&p=I186 |title=Match Facts|publisher=atpworldtour.com|access-date=3 April 2015 }}
• Total aces in a match (Mahut's 103 aces, the second highest number by a player in a match, brought the total to 216).
• Consecutive service games held in a match (168: 84 times each for both Isner and Mahut).{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100625/ap_on_sp_te_ga_su/ten_wimbledon_84 |title=Marathon man Isner loses in 2nd round at Wimbledon |publisher=www.yahoo.com |access-date=25 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628220136/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100625/ap_on_sp_te_ga_su/ten_wimbledon_84 |archive-date=28 June 2010 }}
• Most games won by both winning player (92) and losing player (91) in a match.
• Most points won in a match (Mahut 502, Isner 478).[http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day11/1160ms.html Wimbledon Official Website Match Statistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207111944/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day11/1160ms.html |date= 7 December 2010 }}United States Tennis Association. [http://www.usta.com/2010_year_in_review_by_the_numbers/ 2010 Year in Review: By The Numbers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101033417/http://www.usta.com/2010_year_in_review_by_the_numbers/ |date=1 January 2011 }}.
• Most points in a match (980).

The previous record for games played in a match was the 122-game 1973 Davis Cup match in which the United States team of Stan Smith and Erik van Dillen defeated the Chile team of Patricio Cornejo and Jaime Fillol 7–9, 37–39, 8–6, 6–1, 6–3.{{cite news|title=Records smashed by longest-ever match |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/wimbledon/top-stories/Records-smashed-by-longest-ever-match/articleshow/6084705.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=27 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628001947/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/wimbledon/top-stories/Records-smashed-by-longest-ever-match/articleshow/6084705.cms |archive-date=28 June 2010 }} The previous record for most games in a singles match was the 112-game 1969 match in which Pancho Gonzales defeated Charlie Pasarell 22–24, 1–6, 16–14, 6–3, 11–9, also in the first round at Wimbledon.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/1969/jun/26/wimbledon2003.tennis|title=Pancho wins the longest match|date=26 June 1969|access-date=23 June 2010|first=David|last=Gray|work=The Guardian | location=London}} The singles record since the introduction of the tie-break was the 2003 Australian Open quarter-final match, in which Andy Roddick and Younes El Aynaoui played 83 games; Roddick won 4–6, 7–6(5), 4–6, 6–4, 21–19.{{cite web|url=http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?e=580&y=2003|title=Australian Open|year=2003|access-date=23 June 2010|publisher=ATP}}

The previous official record for duration was set at the 2004 French Open when Fabrice Santoro defeated Arnaud Clément 6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5), 3–6, 16–14, in 6 hours, 33 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/french04/news/story?id=1809151|title=ESPN – Santoro wins the longest match – Tennis|access-date=23 June 2010|date=25 May 2004|first=Greg|last=Garber|publisher=ESPN}} The unofficial record of 6 hours, 40 minutes, was set on {{Nowrap|25 February}} 2009, when Chris Eaton defeated James Ward 6–3, 6–2, 6–7(3), 2–6, 21–19 in a playoff match to represent the Great Britain Davis Cup team in a 2009 Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group I second round tie versus Ukraine.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7911263.stm|title=Eaton edges Ward in marathon tie|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 February 2009|access-date=23 June 2010}} Isner–Mahut's fifth set alone lasted some 90 minutes longer than the previous longest match. Indeed, even that portion of the fifth set played on the second day was about half an hour longer than the previous longest match, so it also broke the record for the longest play in a single day.

John Isner served his 79th ace to take the final set to 39–38 with serve.{{cite news|last=Newbery|first=Piers|title= Live – Wimbledon 2010|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8753437.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=23 June 2010|date=23 June 2010}} This surpassed Ivo Karlović's 78 aces that he served on {{Nowrap|18 September}} 2009 in a Davis Cup match against Radek Štěpánek.{{cite news|url=http://montecarlo.masters-series.com/1/en/news/newsarticle_1033.asp|author=Monte Carlo Masters|author-link=Monte Carlo Masters|title=Ferrer, Davydenko Advance in Straight Sets|access-date=17 April 2008|publisher=Monte Carlo Masters|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080427015810/http://montecarlo.masters-series.com/1/en/news/newsarticle_1033.asp|archive-date=27 April 2008}} In all, Isner served 113 aces; Mahut also surpassed the previous record with 103 aces. At the 2012 edition of Wimbledon, Serena Williams had a women's record 102 aces for the entire tournament, falling short of both Isner's and Mahut's aces in a single round.

The length of the match exceeded the total playing time of Serena Williams in every round combined in winning the previous year's Ladies Wimbledon title. She played for less than ten hours in the entire tournament.{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/410567-isner-vs-mahut-tennis-alternatives-what-to-do-with-10-hours |title=Isner vs Mahut Tennis Alternatives: What To Do With 10 Hours |work=Bleacher Report |access-date=8 July 2013}}

File:Plaque on Wimbledon Court No. 18 to commemorate the longest match in tennis history between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut on 22-24 June 2010.jpg

In the United Kingdom, the match was featured live in part on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC HD, which were all the television channels which the BBC used to cover Wimbledon. The match was broadcast live in its entirety on the BBC Red Button.

Commentating for the BBC during this match were Ronald McIntosh and Mark Cox on the first day, and McIntosh and Greg Rusedski on the second and third days. It was McIntosh's first ever Wimbledon commentary and became the longest continuous commentary for a single match in broadcasting history.{{cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/832762-commentator-for-wimbledons-longest-match-was-tennis-virgin|title=Commentator for Wimbledon's longest match was tennis virgin|work=Metro.co.uk|date=25 June 2010|access-date=3 December 2010}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/bbc2012/biographies/tv-commentators-pundits.html|title=BBC 2012 TV commentators and pundits}}

The fifth set of the match was covered by Xan Brooks of the Guardian on their Wimbledon Live Blog{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jun/23/wimbledon-2010-tennis-live|title=Wimbledon 2010 live blog: 23 June {{!}} Xan Brooks|last=Brooks|first=Xan|date=23 June 2010|website=The Guardian|access-date=13 July 2018}} and continued the following day by Nicky Bandini.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jun/24/wimbledon-2010-isner-mahut-live|title=John Isner v Nicolas Mahut – as it happened {{!}} Wimbledon 2010 {{!}} Nicky Bandini|last=Bandini|first=Nicky|date=24 June 2010|website=the Guardian|access-date=13 July 2018}}

In the United States, ESPN and sibling channel ESPN2 telecast the match.

{{5-set tennis

| player1 = {{flagicon|USA}} John Isner (23)

| player2 ={{flagicon|FRA}} Nicolas Mahut (Q)

| p1 s1 = 6

| p2 s1 = 4

| p1 s2 = 3

| p2 s2 = 6

| p1 s3 = 6⁷

| p2 s3 = 7⁹

| p1 s4 = 7⁷

| p2 s4 = 6³

| p1 s5 = 70

| p2 s5 = 68

| show set nums = true

| time1 = 32

| time2 = 29

| time3 = 49

| time4 = 64

| time5 = 491

| ref =

| width = 500px

}}

All times in British Summer Time (UTC+1){{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5323415 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628045638/http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5323415 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2010 |title=Human Spirit Endures In Epic Match |publisher=ESPN |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010}}

;Tuesday 22 June 2010

• 6:13 pm – Match begins on Court 18
• 6:45 pm – Isner wins the first set by 6–4
• 7:14 pm – Mahut wins the second set by 6–3
• 8:03 pm – Mahut wins the third set by 7–6, after winning the tiebreak 9–7
• 9:07 pm – Isner wins the fourth set by 7–6, after winning the tiebreak 7–3. Play is suspended at two sets all. Total match time at this point was 2 hours, 54 minutes.

;Wednesday 23 June 2010

• 2:05 pm – Match resumes on Court 18 for the start of the fifth set
• 5:45 pm – Match becomes the longest official match in history. The score at this point was 32–32 in the fifth set
• 9:09 pm – Play is suspended for a second time, with the score tied at 59–59 in the fifth and deciding set. Total match time at this point was 9 hours, 58 minutes.

;Thursday 24 June 2010

• 3:40 pm – Match resumes on Court 18 at 59–59 in the fifth set{{cite web|url=http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule11.html |title=2010 Wimbledon Championships Website – Official Site by IBM |publisher=Wimbledon.org |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625201130/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/schedule11.html |archive-date=25 June 2010 }}
• 4:47 pm – Match ends in favour of John Isner, who won the final set 70–68. Total match time was 11 hours, 5 minutes.

: From Wimbledon's official website

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{sisterlinks|d=Q30801|c=category:Isner–Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|q=no}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101207111944/http://2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day11/1160ms.html Match statistics] at the official Wimbledon website
• [https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/match-stats/archive/2010/540/MS123 Match statistics] at the official ATP site
• [https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/john-isner-vs-nicolas-mahut/I186/M873 Player head-to-head] at the official ATP site
• {{YouTube|TyGO0RU7aVk|title=John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut, Wimbledon 2010, The Longest Match in Full}}
• {{YouTube|J9M-XwUhYH4|title=John Isner v Nicolas Mahut, Wimbledon 2010 first round, Extended Highlights}}

{{Tennis records and statistics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Isner-Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships}}

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