Records tumble as Mahut refuses to give in to Isner

Records tumbled before a transfixed crowd on Court 18 as Isner and Mahut ended the day locked at 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7/9) 7-6 (7/3) 59-59, in a match which has already lasted nearly 10 hours.

Both players held their serve for an incredible 118 games in the decider before the enveloping gloom over SW19 brought a halt to proceedings shortly after 9pm.

The match goes down as the longest in grand slam history, and also sets new benchmarks for the most games played in a single set and match, while both players also surpassed the previous record for aces – with Isner claiming a new record of 98 and Mahut hitting 95, also beating the previous best.

Such was the gruelling nature of the contest, even the courtside scoreboard packed up after around eight hours, perhaps unable to cope with the rapidly increasing numbers it was being asked to process.

American Isner, the 23rd seed, and French grass-court specialist Mahut came on court to begin the final set at just after 2pm after they were halted on Tuesday night at two sets all due to the descending darkness.

But no one could have predicted what would unfold as both displayed supreme levels of concentration to offer up a serving masterclass.

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

Isner forced match point at 10-9 before Mahut fought back to hold. The American also forced two break points at 33-32 but his gritty opponent once again batted the danger away to maintain the status quo.

An air shot from Isner at 41-41 underlined the extent to which fatigue was beginning to affect the players although, of course, the tall American rallied to hold.

In the 101st game, Mahut brought up his first break points of the decider, but in keeping with the contest the American – who appeared to be feeling the pace more than his opponent – fought back as he again cranked up his formidable serve.

Isner brought up match point at 59-58 just after 9pm, but Mahut sent down an ace to see that off before another thumping serve forced the error on the return and the American's chance was gone.

With the score at 59-59 and with the light fading, the players were offered the chance to come off the court. With Mahut keen to call it a day, the decision was taken to try for a result tomorrow. Isner was less enthused by the decision but accepted his fate, adding: "We both couldn't agree to play, so it got cancelled."

While shattered by his exploits, Isner still had enough in the tank to appreciate what had taken place yesterday.

"Nothing like this will ever happen again ever," he said. "He's serving fantastic, I'm serving fantastic and there is nothing more to it."

Mahut added: "He's a champion and we are fighting like we never did before.

"Someone has to win and we'll come back (today). Everyone wants to see more but we have to come back again."

With more to come today, the statistics from this amazing match will assuredly change further, but as of close of play yesterday evening Isner and Mahut had already rewritten the record books.

Shortly before 6pm the match became the longest 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.

With precisely 10 hours on the clock when play was suspended, it set a new mark for the longest match of any type at SW19, far exceeding the six hours and nine minutes for a 2006 men's doubles quarter-final between Todd Perry/Simon Aspelin and Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor.

With the final set running to 118 games and still counting, it comfortably outstrips 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.

And with 163 games played in total so far, Isner and Mahut also comfortably surpassed the previous best mark of 112 set in the encounter between Gonzales and Pasarell 41 years ago.

Indeed, they beat the mark of 112 in the final set alone.

In a twist sure to bring a wry smile to the face of the eventual victor, the opponent lying in wait in the second round will be Holland's Thiemo De Bakker, who had an epic of his own yesterday as he won 16-14 in the final set of his first-round match with Santiago Giraldo, which was also held over from Tuesday.

Mahut was also involved in a marathon encounter in qualifying for Wimbledon, defeating Britain's Alex Bogdanovic 3-6 6-3 24-22 in the second round of qualifying at Roehampton.

RECORD BREAKERS: HOW MAHUT AND ISNER MADE HISTORY

The longest match 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 longest match of any type at the All England Club, beating the six hours and nine minutes for a men's doubles clash between Todd Perry and Simon Aspelin against Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor.

New record for number of games in a final set. Previous best was 46, set twice, firstly in 1969 and again seven years later.

Most games played in a single match at 163 games. Previous highest was 112.

Both players surpassed previous records for number of aces – Isner leading with 98, with Mahut three behind.