Isner-Mahut makes history

Isner: Record number of aces on Court 18

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Not even 10 hours of tennis could separate John Isner and Nicolas Mahut as they made history in their delayed first-round clash at Wimbledon.

Resuming on Court 18 at two sets apiece after their match had been suspended on Tuesday, they combined to hold their serve for an incredible 118 games.

The score had reached 59-59 when the enveloping gloom over SW19 forced play to be halted for bad light again - meaning they will have to come back for a third day to find a winner.

The remarkable contest saw both men break the previous record for number of aces in a match - Isner managing 98 compared to Mahut's tally of 94.

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

American Isner wasted a match point at 10-9 and then also also let slip two more opportunities to close things out when leading 33-32.

Battled back

On each occasion Mahut battled back to stay alive against the 23rd seed.

The Frenchman eventually had a chance of his own, in the 101st game, only for his opponent to survive thanks to his formidable serve.

Isner had one more match point at 59-58 just after 9pm, by which time the sun was setting fast and conditions were rapidly deteriorating.

Mahut impressively sent down yet another ace on his way to levelling matters in what proved to be the final game.

The absorbing tie caught the attention of both the spectators, who crowded around the court, and also the players at the All England Club.

"I love this. I know they're maybe not loving this, but I guess this is unheard of in our game. Normally there are breaks in tennis matches," Roger Federer said after beating Ilija Bozoljac in four sets.

"John is barely moving anymore, but he's still able to produce good serves when he has to. It's so impressive to see. I was watching this. I don't know if I was crying or laughing. It was too much."

He added: "Unfortunately there's going to be a loser. But I think both will come out as winners, that's for sure."

At just before 6pm the match had become the longest ever in Grand Slam history, beating the previous mark of six hours and 33 minutes set by Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement at the French Open in 2004.

The final set also comfortably beats the previous highest mark in the men's singles competition of 46, set by Nicola Pietrangeli and Nikola Pilic in 1962 and equalled by Pancho Gonzales and Charlie Pasarell in 1969.

Thiemo De Bakker lies in wait in the second round for the eventual winner.

Ironically the Dutchman won 16-14 in the final set of his own first-round thriller with Santiago Giraldo, which had also been held over from Tuesday.