Wimbledon 2018 Tallest tennis players

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson returns against Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their men’s singles quarter-finals match on the ninth day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF /

Federer vs Anderson: A list of longest tennis matches ever played

Roger Federer and Kevin Anderson’s epic has some way to go before being the longest ever men’s singles match…

Wimbledon 2018 Tallest tennis players

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson returns against Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their men’s singles quarter-finals match on the ninth day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF /

Roger Federer and Kevin Anderson were locked in one serious battle at Wimbledon on Wednesday night.

But, believe it or not, the match was far from the longest men’s singles match ever played.  It stretched just over the four-hour mark, quite some way from the longest ever tennis marathons.

The longest match, incidentally, also happened at Wimbledon. That was back in 2010, in the first round and went on for over 11 hours, spread across three days because nothing could separate John Isner and Nicolas Mahut… and bad light intervened more than once.

In total, the match took 11 hours, five minutes of play over three days, with a final score of 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 70–68 for a total of 183 games.

Longest men’s singles matches ever

11 hours, five minutes: Wimbledon 2010, 1st Round: United States John Isner def. France Nicolas Mahut, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 70–68 (three days).

Six hours, 43 minutes: Davis Cup 2015, 1st Round: Argentina Leonardo Mayer def. Brazil João Souza, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5), 5–7, 5–7, 15–13 (one day).

Six hours, 33 minutes: French Open 2004, 1st Round: France Fabrice Santoro def. France Arnaud Clément, 6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 3–6, 16–14 (two days).

Six hours, 22 minutes, 982, Quarterfinals: United States John McEnroe def. Sweden Mats Wilander, 9–7, 6–2, 15–17, 3–6, 8–6 (one day; before tiebreak era).

Six hours, 21 minutes,  Davis Cup 1987, World Group Play-offs: Germany Boris Becker def. United States John McEnroe, 4–6, 15–13, 8–10, 6–2, 6–2 (one day; before tiebreak era).

Six hours, 15 minutes, Davis Cup 1980, Americas Inter-Zonal Final: Argentina José Luis Clerc def. United States John McEnroe 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 14–12 (before tiebreak era).