Wimbledon: Longest Grand Slam match record smashed

London :

France's Nicolas Mahut and John Isner of the United States made history at Wimbledon on Wednesday as they set a new record for the longest Grand Slam singles match ever.

They surpassed the previous time of six hours and 33 minutes set at the 2004 French Open, when Fabrice Santoro beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 16-14.

The record number of aces served in a match at Wimbledon also fell.

Croatian Ivo Karlovic previously held that record, having served 51 aces in a defeat to Italian Daniele Bracciali in 2005.

But both had surpassed that mark in the clash between 23rd seed Isner and grass-court specialist Mahut, who were still contesting the final set of a match carried over from Tuesday.

The previous record for the longest match at Wimbledon was six hours and nine minutes, set in the 2006 men's doubles quarter-finals.

In the men's singles here, it was five hours and 28 minutes, set in 1989 in a match between G. Holmes and T. Witsken of the United States.

The previous record longest set at Wimbledon was 62 games, set in a men's doubles match in 1968.

Back then, A. R. Olmedo of Peru and F. O. Segura of Ecuador beat G. L. Forbes and A. A. Segal of South Africa 32-30, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, in the days before tie-breaks were introduced for all but the final set.

Mahut and Isner were still tussling at 35-35 in the final set on Court 18.