Isner wins marathon game

American 23rd seed John Isner has beaten France’s Nicolas Mahut 6-4 3-6 6-7 7-6 70-68 in the first round at Wimbledon.

The match was the longest in professional tennis history.

Mahut had faced the greater pressure of the two players by dint of serving second to Isner in the final set, and was therefore aware that any break point against him would be a match point.

An athletic overhead smash in the 130th game typified the freshness world number 148 Mahut has demonstrated throughout this gruelling contest, a trait in sharp contrast to the slower, more loping gait of his opponent.

As eight hours elapsed in the final set alone and the overall time of the match reached 11 hours, Mahut moved 0-30 ahead on the Isner serve to raise excitement levels in the packed arena.

But ace number 112 by Isner steadied any jitters before another thumping serve was too hot for Mahut to handle as the American got back on level terms.

To the surprise of no-one, Isner rattled off the next two points as the pair remained without a break-point chance between through 19 games today.

But that all changed dramatically as Isner played a solid game before bringing up match point against the Mahut serve at 40-30 with a superb forehand down the line.

With Court 18 holding its collective breath, Mahut fired down another thumping serve but Isner got the ball back before hitting the winner to seal the final set 70-68.