It's the longest match in tennis history, lasting three days and totaling 11 hours of play. American John Isner is celebrating after finally defeating Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the first round at Wimbledon. INSIDE EDITION has the story.
It was an electrifying end to the most remarkable contest in the history of tennis, between two guys most people probably haven't heard of!
Weary with fatigue, American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut shared a hug. They're not famous tennis players, but they're in the record books forever for playing a match at Wimbledon that lasted three days...the longest match ever played!
It was a total of 11 hours of tennis, and at times it seemed more like a boxing match, as these relentless competitors tumbled to the turf time and again.
"I'm a little haggard," Isner told the Today show shortly before the final confrontation. "The body's not feeling great. I have no skin on either of my pinkie toes."
But neither player gave up and at long last, victory went to Isner with a blistering backhand shot.
The jaw-dropping score of the final set was 70 to 68. Isner's mother Karen was overwhelmed by it all.
And special awards went to both players for a marathon match no one will ever forget.
The previous longest match on record was six hours and 33 minutes long.
