London, England – In a match that will be etched in tennis history, American John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut of France in the first round of the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. The epic encounter, which spanned over three days, lasted a staggering 11 hours and 5 minutes, setting a new record for the longest match in tennis history.

The marathon match began on June 22nd and concluded on June 24th. Both players displayed incredible resilience and determination as they battled it out on Court No. 18. The match was so long that it had to be suspended due to darkness on multiple occasions.

The deciding fifth set was particularly grueling, with Isner and Mahut trading blows for hours. The set eventually ended in a tiebreak, with Isner finally emerging victorious by a score of 70-68.

This historic match has had a lasting impact on the sport. Wimbledon subsequently introduced a tiebreak rule for the fifth set after a 12-12 tie to prevent such lengthy matches in the future.

Key Facts:

• Duration: 11 hours and 5 minutes
• Players: John Isner (USA) vs. Nicolas Mahut (France)
• Tournament: 2010 Wimbledon Championships
• Round: First Round
• Deciding Set: 70-68