Darkness halts marathon men

Nicolas Mahut
12 April 2012

John Isner and Nicolas Mahut's first-round Wimbledon encounter will go into a third day after a titanic battle that will go down as one of the most remarkable ever witnessed at the All England Club.

Records tumbled before a transfixed crowd on Court 18 as Isner and Mahut ended the day locked at 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7/9) 7-6 (7/3) 59-59, in a match which has already lasted nearly 10 hours.

Both players held their serve for an incredible 118 games in the decider before the enveloping gloom over SW19 brought a halt to proceedings shortly after 9pm.

The match goes down as the longest in grand slam history, and also sets new benchmarks for the most games played in a single set and match, while both players also surpassed the previous record for aces - with Isner claiming a new record of 98 and Mahut hitting 94, also beating the previous best.

American Isner, the 23rd seed, and French grass-court specialist Mahut came on court to begin the final set at just after 2pm after they were halted on Wednesday night at two sets all due to darkness but no-one could have predicted what would unfold as both displayed supreme levels of concentration to offer up a serving masterclass.

In a match littered with diverting statistics, perhaps the most striking was the low number of break-point chances in the final set.

Isner forced match point at 10-9 before Mahut fought back to hold. The American also forced two break points at 33-32 but his gritty opponent once again batted the danger away to maintain the status quo.

An air shot from Isner at 41-41 underlined the extent to which fatigue was beginning to affect the players, although of course the giant American rallied to hold.

In the 101st game, Mahut brought up his first break points of the decider, but in keeping with the contest the American - who appeared to be feeling the pace more than his opponent - fought back as he again cranked up his formidable serve.

Isner brought up match point at 59-58 just after 9pm, but Mahut sent down an ace to see that off before another thumping serve forced the error on the return and the American's chance was gone.With the score at 59-59 and with the light fading, the players were offered the chance to come off the court.

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