[Voo de Mar]

Nicolas "Phantom" Mahut - the player who within one week was involved in the longest singles deciding 3rd and 5th set of 133 years in the Grand Slam history



Archer encouraged me to create a new thread, and I think it's a good idea to emphasize the 2010 Wimbledon: J.Isner d. N.Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68 achievement from the perspective of the whole tennis history back to 1877 when the first Wimbledon was held. So, the idea of this thread is to show all the longest singles and doubles sets in terms of games...

5 LONGEST SINGLES SETS IN TENNIS HISTORY IN TERMS OF GAMES

1968 Kansas City: J.Brown d. B.Brown 36-34, 6-1
1966 Philadelphia: V.Seixas d. B.Bowrey 32-34, 6-4, 10-8
1966 Warsaw: R.Taylor d. T.Nowicki 33-31, 6-1
1967 Southampton (q): D.Knight d. M.Sprengelmeyer 32-30, 3-6, 19-17
1966 Warsaw: R.Taylor d. W.Gasiorek 27-29, 31-29, 6-4

5 LONGEST DOUBLES SETS IN TENNIS HISTORY IN TERMS OF GAMES

1967 Newport: D.Leach / D.Dell d. L.Schloss / T.Mozur 3-6, 49-47, 22-20 *
1967 Southampton: L.Schloss / T.Mozur d. C.Bovett / B.Seewagen 7-5, 48-46
1969 Phildelphia: J.Osborne / B.Bowrey d. T.Addison / R.Keldie 3-6, 43-41, 7-5
1973 Davis Cup: S.Smith / E.Van Dillen d. J.Fillol / P.Cornejo 7-9, 37-39, 8-6, 6-1, 6-3
1949 T.Schroeder / B.Falkenburg d. P.Gonzales / H.Stewart 36-34, 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 19-17

* That doubles match lasted 6 hours 10 minutes. Schloss and Mozur served as a second pair in both losing sets. They saved match point at 6:7 and 9:10 in the third set.

[Voo de Mar]

I've got an aspiration to gather below all sets of the Grand Slam history (singles matches) which ended with at least 20 games won by one player. Moreover, all sets of this kind which were played in the Open Era in both, singles and doubles (also with qualifying matches!) in order from "70-68" to "20-18"... Looking at all Grand Slam singles scorelines through different decades, I'd say my general impression is that from the very beginning (the end of XIX Century) to 1950s, the scorelines were very similar, long sets were 10-8 or 11-9. That changed in the 50s when players began to play more often sets 15-13 or 16-14. In the early 60s cracked the limit of "+20 sets", in the late 60s we had those extraordinary "+40" sets in doubles, and it was the main reason of introducing tie-breaks in the early 70s

Reminder: tie-breaks were introduced to:
- Aussie Open in 1971
- Roland Garros in 1973
- Wimbledon in 1971
- US Open in 1970
- Davis Cup in 1989

----------------------------------------------
SINGLES

2010 Wimbledon, 1R - J.Isner d. N.Mahut              6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68 
- record of all records :D


1989 Wimbledon, q - S.Warner d. M.Anger              7-5, 1-6, 7-6, 3-6, 28-26 

1970 London, QF: M.Riessen def. M.Cox                25-27, 8-6, 7-5

1969 US Open, 4R: J.Newcombe d. M.Riessen            4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 25-23
2012 London-Olympics, 2R: JW.Tsonga d. M.Raonic      6-3, 3-6, 25-23
- the longest singles deciding 3rd set in the Open Era

1962 Wimbledon, 2R - N.Pietrangeli  d. N.Pilic       24-22, 6-2, 6-4 
1969 Wimbledon, 1R - P.Gonzales d. C.Passarell	     22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9
1976 Davis Cup - D.Power d. A.Betancur               6-4, 22-24, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
1987 Davis Cup - A.Chesnokov d. M.Schapers           24-22, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2


2010 Wimbledon, q - N.Mahut d. A.Bogdanovic          3-6, 6-3, 24-22 *

1970 Stockholm, 1R - C.Richey d. A.Gimeno            23-21, 6-1

1979 Wimbledon, q - A.Marshal d. R.Stock             4-6, 6-3, 23-21 
1999 Wimbledon, q - J.Thomas d. S.Prieto             6-4, 4-6, 23-21 
2005 Wimbledon, q - C.Guccione d. O.Patience         4-6, 7-6, 23-21 


1966 Wimbledon, 1R - J.Arilla d. P.Rodriguez         20-22, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
1967 Australian Open, SF - A.Ashe d. J.Newcombe      12-10, 20-22, 6-3, 6-2
1969 Queens Club, F - F.Stolle d. J.Newcombe         6-3, 22-20
1969 Australian Open, SF - R.Laver d. T.Roche        7-5, 22-20, 9-11, 1-6, 6-3
1969 Wimbledon, 1R - S.Smith d. A.Stone              20-22, 6-4, 9-7, 4-6, 6-3
1969 Wimbledon, 2R - J.Leschly d. J.L. Rouyer	     6-4, 22-20, 6-4 
1969 US Open, 1R - F.Robbins d. D.Dell               22-20, 9-7, 6-8, 8-10, 6-4
1987 Queens Club, 2R - N.Odizor d. G.Forget          7-6, 4-6, 22-20

1996 Roland, Garros, q - D.Nestor d. T.Guardiola     4-6, 6-3, 22-20 


1950 US Open, 2R - S.Schwartz d. C. De Voe           6-4, 21-19, 6-3
"20 set" for the first time after 73 years of GS events :)
1961 US Open, 4R - M.Sangster d. A.Palafox           21-19, 8-10, 6-3, 6-4
1966 US Open, 1R - J.Osborne d. C.Buchholz           6-8, 6-3, 6-3, 21-19

1968 Wimbledon, q - L.Lumsden d. F.Tutvin            6-4, 10-12, 21-19, 6-1 
1968 US Open, 1R - J.Loyo-Mayo d. J.Robbins          8-6, 16-14, 21-19
1981 Davis Cup - C.Kirmayr d. U.Pinner               6-2, 11-13, 21-19, 6-3
2003 Australian Open, QF - A.Roddick d. Y.El Aynaoui 4-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 21-19


1954 Australian Open, q - R.Sherriff d. E.Johnson    18-20, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
1958 US Open, 1R - W.Bond d. D.Junta                 20-18, 7-5, 6-4
1966 Australian Open, 3R - A.Roche d. T.Okker        20-18, 6-2, 3-6, 8-6
1969 Bristol, 2R - D.Ralston d. R.Taylor             18-20, 6-2, 6-2
1970 Australian Open, QF - D.Ralston d. J.Newcombe   19-17, 20-18, 4-6, 6-3
1991 Davis Cup - R.Ashby d. J.Medrano                4-6, 7-6, 6-3, 5-7, 20-18

1993 Wimbledon, q - Ga.Muller d. P.Lundgren          4-6, 7-6, 20-18 
1998 Davis Cup - N.Marques d. N.Zimonjic             3-6, 6-0, 2-6, 6-3, 20-18
2000 Wimbledon, 3R - M.Philippoussis d. S.Schalken   4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 20-18

DOUBLES

1973 Davis Cup - S.Smith / E.Van Dillen d. J.Fillol / P.Cornejo 7-9, 37-39, 8-6, 6-1, 6-3
- the longest doubles set in the Open Era

1968 Wimbledon, 2R - A.Olmedo / P.Segura d. G.Forbes / A.Segal 32-30, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

1997 Australian Open, 1R - W.Arthurs / J.Irleand d. C.Brandi / F.Messori 6-3, 3-6, 29-27
- the longest doubles deciding 3rd set (along with MD **) in the Open Era

2007 Wimbledon, 2R - M.Melo / A.Sa d. P.Hanley / K.Ullyett 5-7, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(7), 28-26
- the longest doubles deciding 5th set in the Open Era

1969 Wimbledon, 2R - D.Contet / F.Jauffret d. J.Alexander / P.Dent 9-7, 25-23, 7-5

1985 Wimbledon, QF - H.Gunthardt / B.Taroczy d. P.Annacone / C.Van Rensburg 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-7(4), 24-22
2012 Olympics, 2R - M.Melo / B.Soares d. T.Berdych / R.Stepanek 2-6, 6-4, 24-22
2013 Davis Cup - T.Berdych / L.Rosol d. M.Chiudinelli / S.Wawrinka 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(3), 24-22

1968 Wimbledon, 1R - C.Graebner / J.Osborne d. V.Korotkov / A.Volkov 23-21, 7-5, 6-2
1990 Australian Open, QF - P.Aldrich / D.Visser d. S.Davis / R.Van't Hof 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 23-21
1995 Wimbledon, q - R.Matuszewski / T.Nelson d. T.J.Middleton / A.Thoms 6-4, 4-6, 23-21
2006 Wimbledon, QF - M.Knowles / D.Nestor d. S.Aspelin / T.Perry 5-7, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 23-21

1993 Australian Open, QF - D.Visser / L.Warder d. J.Grabb / R.Reneberg 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 22-20

1969 US Open, 2R - C.Drysdale / R.Taylor d. Buding / O.Parun 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 21-19
1972 Roland Garros, 2R - A.Gimeno / Munoz d. R.Cano / G.Vilas 21-19, 6-2
1972 Davis Cup - S.Smith / E.Van Dillen d. J.Loyo-Mayo / V.Zarazula 21-19, 6-3, 6-4
1985 Davis Cup - S.Edberg / A.Jarryd d. A.Amritraj / V.Amritraj 21-19, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
2011 Wimbledon, 1R - J.Cabal / R.Farah d. R.Bopanna / A.Qureshi 2-6, 6-2, 21-19

1968 US Open, SF - A.Ashe / A.Gimeno d. C.Greabner / C.Passarell 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 20-18, 15-13
1969 Wimbledon, 1R - J.Kodes / J.Kukal d. P.Darmon / JL.Rouyer 4-6, 5-7, 20-18, 6-4, 9-7
1969 Wimbledon, 3R - B.Lutz / S.Smith d. B.Fairlie / O.Parun 8-6, 11-9, 3-6, 20-18
1969 Wimbledon, QF - B.Hewitt / F.McMillan d. B.Lutz / S.Smith 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, 20-18
1984 Australian Open, 2R - D.Gitlin / H.Pfister d. S.Davis / B.Testermann 2-6, 7-6( ), 20-18
1993 Wimbledon, q - B.Curry / K.Ullyett d. S.Lareau / D.Nestor 7-5, 4-6, 20-18

MIXED DOUBLES

1991 Wimbledon, 1R - B.Schultz / M.Schapers d. A.Temesvari / T.Nijssen 6-3, 5-7, 29-27 **

* The longest deciding 3rd set played juniors, at Wimbledon 2002 when R.Henry beat C.Morel 7-5, 6-7(3), 26-24
** The longest MD lasted 4 hours 14 minutes
***Italic - matches before the Open era

[straitup]

Mahut

[TennisOnWood]

Ineed Mahut

I really don't care if he stay without ATP title... he is part of tennis history for good


And again,great job Voo

[Certinfy]

Mahut

[Echoes]

Great threads (plural!).

What I think should also be remembered is that Nico was also serving second in the 3rd set against Boggo but when he broke his serve (3X?). All in all he must have served 82 times (17+65?) to stay in the tournament. Am I right?

It's great to see him have his place in tennis history. I've been a fan since the match against Safin in Bercy, though I didn't care much about tennis in those days.

Roger Taylor in Warsaw, twice above 30 !


By the way, I knew already on Saturday that Voo was there because I've watched the YT vids on Saturday afternoon. The "Golden Ace" clip passed from 5 to 23 views, very quickly (I don't think I've watched 18 times, though ! Someone else must have watched )

[Archer16]

I'm honored to have inspired a new thread of yours (and damn you're quick... )

Couple of ideas for post #2:

• I think it would be better sorted to separate lists of singles and doubles, with another one of mixed added.
• It would be nice to have such a one-liner in red (not in bold unless a record) below each entry, with (if known) match duration, set duration, ace count, MP saved and maybe another oddity if there was one.
• In the Melo-Sa match thread there's a mention of a 21-19 set from Wimbledon 1966 that isn't list here (yet).

[Voo de Mar]

Originally Posted by Archer16

In the Melo-Sa match thread there's a mention of a 21-19 set from Wimbledon 1966 that isn't list here (yet).

Because in the #2 post, I've included "20 sets" from:

- all Grand Slam tournaments (singles)
- all Grand Slam tournaments (singles + doubles in the Open Era)

Where are doubles scorelines from Grand Slam tournaments before 1968? If there's such a website, we can improve #2

[Voo de Mar]

17 matches with at least 100 games (all-time):

1) 183 games: J.Isner d. N.Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68 (Wimbledon 2010)

2) 147 games: D.Leach / D.Dell d. L.Schloss / T.Mozur 3-6, 49-47, 22-20 (Newport 1967)

3) 144 games: B.Wilson / M.Cox d. R.Holmberg / C.Pasarell 26-24, 17-19, 30-28 (Salisbury 1968)

4) 135 games: T.Schroeder / B.Falkenburg d. P.Gonzales / H.Stewart 36-34, 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 19-17 (L.A. 1949)

5) 126 games: R.Taylor d. W.Gasiorek 27-29, 31-29, 6-4 (Warsaw 1966)

6) 122 games: S.Smith / E.van Dillen d. J.Fillol / P.Cornejo 7-9, 37-39, 8-6, 6-1, 6-3 (Little Rock-DC 1973)

7) 112 games: P.Gonzales d. C.Pasarell 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9 (Wimbledon 1969)

8) 107 games: D.Knight d. M.Sprengelmeyer 32-30, 3-6, 19-17 (Southampton 1967)

9) 106 games: L.Schloss / T.Mozur d. C.Bovett / B.Seewagen 7-5, 48-46 (Southampton 1967)

10) 105 games: C.Drsydale / R.Moore d. R.Emerson / R.Barnes 29-31, 8-6, 3-6, 8-6, 6-2 (Boston 1967)

11) 105 games: J.Osborne / B.Bowrey d. T.Addison / R.Keldie 3-6, 43-41, 7-5 (Philadelphia 1969)

12) 105 games: J.Loyo-Mayo / M.Lara d. M.Santana / L.Garcia 10-12, 24-22, 11-9, 3-6, 6-2 (Boston 1966)

13) 102 games: D.White / B.Galloway d. H.Sweeney / L.Roemer 6-4, 17-15, 4-6, 18-20, 7-5 (Boston 1964)

14) 100 games: C.Sutter / G.McAuliff d. F.Shields / G.Lott 12-14, 14-12, 25-23 (Buffalo 1934)

15) 100 games: B.Lutz / J.Loyo-Mayo d. B.Bond / D.Leach 19-17, 33-31 (Phoenix 1969)

16) 100 games: F.Robbins d. D.Dell 22-20, 9-7, 6-8, 8-10, 6-4 (US Open 1969)

17) 100 games: H.Fritz d. J.Andrew 16-14, 11-9, 9-11, 4-6, 11-9 (Caracas-DC 1982)

***
Italic - matches before the Open era

[straitup]

Originally Posted by Voo de Mar

5) 126 games: R.Taylor def. W.Gasiorek 27-29, 31-29, 6-4 (Warsaw 1966)

Bit of a disappointing final set there

[Echoes]

Small present for you, an 18th match with at least 100 games that I came across by pure chance.


...


Pennsylvania Lawn Tennis Championship in Haverford (Merion) 1968 Doubles Final:

100 games: A. Ashe/M. Riessen vs C. Graebner/C. Pasarell 9/7 10/8 2/6 28/30 SUS

[Voo de Mar]

^ Charlie Pasarell seems to be the only tennis player who participated in 3 "at least 100 games" matches Where did you find this scoreline?

[Echoes]

It's on the tournament's wiki page. In those days it was still an amateur event though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsyl...s_Championship

[Voo de Mar]

I found the info about that match. It had been halted due to darkness on Sunday and wasn't resumed because Riessen changed his status on Monday and became a pro

[straitup]

Weird