Longest games

[krosero]

What are the longest games you know of?

These are some to start off with, just some I've made a note of. I'm sure there are longer games.

I'm listing the server's name first and whether or not they held serve, followed by some details of what the server did, and the opponent's name.

15 deuces, 1987 RG, Lendl is broken at 5-3 in third set, loses 9 set points, saves 6 break points, opponent was Nystrom

13 deuces, 1995 Wimbledon final, Sanchez Vicario is broken at 5-all in third, saves 5 break points vs. Graf

11 deuces, 1980 Chicago final, Evert is broken at 4-5 in the first set, saves 6 set points vs. Navratilova

11 deuces, 1996 AO SF, Agassi holds in second set vs. Chang

10 deuces, 1980 Wimbledon SF, Connors holds at 4-2 in second set vs. McEnroe

10 deuces, 1981 Toyota Championships, round robin, Austin holds at 3-all in the first set vs. Evert

10 deuces, 1985 USO SF, Evert is broken at 2-3 in the third vs. Mandlikova

10 deuces, 1987 AO final, Cash holds in second set, saves 5 set points vs. Edberg

10 deuces, 2005 AO, R128, Santoro broken in first game of second set vs. Federer

10 deuces, 2007 WTA Championships final, Henin is broken at 5-6 in the first set, saves 7 set points vs. Sharapova

 

[pc1]

I recall Borg against Vijay Amritraj in the 1974 US Open had a really long game in that match at 4-2 for Vijay in the fifth.

I think Borg and Laver had a really long game (from reading about it) in their match in the 1975 WCT Championship.

It's not something I keep track of but I'll try to think of some.

Edit-I tried to find some newspaper accounts of the Borg/Laver WCT match but the only thing I could find was that it was a 4 hour and 5 minute match. I would guess there were some long games. I thought I read something about them playing a twenty point game or so. Could be wrong.

 

[Moose Malloy]

16 deuces, Krishnan broken at 0-2 in 2nd set vs Edberg at '87 USO
11 deuces, Coria broken at 3-5 in the 3rd set vs Nadal at '05 Rome Masters
10 deuces, Blake held at 1-1 in 2nd set vs Fed at '03 USO
10 deuces, Wilander held at 3-2 in the 3rd set vs Edberg at the '87 USO

this link says that Berasategu had a 28 deuce game vs Fillippini at 1996 Casablanca

Alberto Berasategui and Marcelo Filippini recently played what was believed to be the longest single game in ATP Tour history. Filippini was serving at 1-1 in the second set when the game lasted 20 minutes and included 28 deuces. Berasategui took advantage on his 14th break point to break serve and go on to win the match.

http://articles.latimes.com/1996-04-16/sports/sp-59110_1_davis-cup/3

 

[krosero]

Sometimes I read about games described in number of points rather than number of deuces, so here's a chart to work with.

1 deuce - 8 point game
2 deuces - 10 points
3 deuces - 12 points
4 deuces - 14 points
5 deuces - 16 points
6 deuces - 18 points
7 deuces - 20 points
8 deuces - 22 points
9 deuces - 24 points
10 deuces - 26 points
11 deuces - 28 points
12 deuces - 30 points
13 deuces - 32 points
14 deuces - 34 points
15 deuces - 36 points
16 deuces - 38 points
17 deuces - 40 points
18 deuces - 42 points
19 deuces - 44 points
20 deuces - 46 points
21 deuces - 48 points
22 deuces - 50 points
23 deuces - 52 points
24 deuces - 54 points
25 deuces - 56 points
26 deuces - 58 points
27 deuces - 60 points
28 deuces - 62 points
29 deuces - 64 points
30 deuces - 66 points
31 deuces - 68 points
32 deuces - 70 points
33 deuces - 72 points
34 deuces - 74 points
35 deuces - 76 points
36 deuces - 78 points
37 deuces - 80 points
38 deuces - 82 points
39 deuces - 84 points
40 deuces - 86 points

 

[krosero]

I recall Borg against Vijay Amritraj in the 1974 US Open had a really long game in that match at 4-2 for Vijay in the fifth.

I think Borg and Laver had a really long game (from reading about it) in their match in the 1975 WCT Championship.

It's not something I keep track of but I'll try to think of some.

Edit-I tried to find some newspaper accounts of the Borg/Laver WCT match but the only thing I could find was that it was a 4 hour and 5 minute match. I would guess there were some long games. I thought I read something about them playing a twenty point game or so. Could be wrong.

Yes, Vijay held for 5-2 in the fifth set after 9 deuces.

Re Borg-Laver, that would be interesting if they had a marathon game, or more than one.

 

[piece]

Murray vs Kunitsyn, Dubai 2010. There was a 25min game that went to deuce 14 times.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/murray-races-through-after-sticky-start-1907432.html

 

[pc1]

Yes, Vijay held for 5-2 in the fifth set after 9 deuces.

Re Borg-Laver, that would be interesting if they had a marathon game, or more than one.

Thanks. I feel pretty good that I remember that since I haven't seen the match in almost 37 years.

 

[NLBwell]

Probably (in terms of time) when Chris Evert was playing on clay. How long does it take to hit 100 moonballs? Then they have to play the second point.

 

[heathcliff]

i remember us open 91 connors vs. kriskstein: krickstein serving at 4-2 in the 5th set the game went over 8 deuces or so also becker vs. rostagno at the us open 89 there was a game that went over 7 or 8 deuces. both games lasted 20 minutes or so each

 

[BTURNER]

Probably (in terms of time) when Chris Evert was playing on clay. How long does it take to hit 100 moonballs? Then they have to play the second point.

Evert hardly ever hit a 'moonball' in her rallies. She used them to either mix things up, or catch her breath. She hit pretty flat with just enough spin for margin, with her woodie,even on clay. She added some more top for margin as she learned to put more pace with newer technology for further control of the power. As for the length of those rallies, well that was up to her opponent. How long did they want to wait before loosing it LOL. Borg on clay was worse - and watching Nystrom was was like War and Peace without the exciting scenes.

I do admit that in a match of Evert vs Manuela Maleeva or Austin, we could wait a very long time for an indeterminate conclusion.

 

[Moose Malloy]

14 deuces, Sharapova holds at 1-1 in the 2nd vs Venus at '07 Wimbledon
13 deuces, Serena holda at 5-0 in the 1st vs Suarez Navarro at '10 Australian

wikipedia says that Wade was broken at 5-6 in the 2nd vs King at the 1970 Italian Open in a 21 deuce game.

 

[Thud and blunder]

16 deuces, Krishnan broken at 0-2 in 2nd set vs Edberg at '87 USO
11 deuces, Coria broken at 3-5 in the 3rd set vs Nadal at '05 Rome Masters
10 deuces, Blake held at 1-1 in 2nd set vs Fed at '03 USO
10 deuces, Wilander held at 3-2 in the 3rd set vs Edberg at the '87 USO

this link says that Berasategu had a 28 deuce game vs Fillippini at 1996 Casablanca



http://articles.latimes.com/1996-04-16/sports/sp-59110_1_davis-cup/3

Doesn't add up....62 points in 20 minutes, on clay to boot...

 

[krosero]

wikipedia says that Wade was broken at 5-6 in the 2nd vs King at the 1970 Italian Open in a 21 deuce game.

The source there is Lance Tingay’s The Guinness Book of Tennis Facts & Feats (1983). There were 22 deuces per the Associated Press the day after the match.

Tingay has the game lasting 22 minutes; the AP has 30 minutes.

It was a semifinal. King won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. She beat Heldman in the final (her only Italian Open title).

 

[krosero]

i remember us open 91 connors vs. kriskstein: krickstein serving at 4-2 in the 5th set the game went over 8 deuces or so also becker vs. rostagno at the us open 89 there was a game that went over 7 or 8 deuces. both games lasted 20 minutes or so each

Yes, in the Krickstein match it was 8 deuces exactly (and Krickstein held).

 

[jrepac]

I do admit that in a match of Evert vs Manuela Maleeva or Austin, we could wait a very long time for an indeterminate conclusion.

I loved Chris's game, but when she played Manuela I wanted to slit my wrists...:shock:

 

[gpt]

If i remember correctly, Cash held serve after something like 12 Deuce points against Edberg to stay in the second set during the 87 AO final. Cash still went down 2 sets to love before losing in 5

 

[krosero]

this link says that Berasategu had a 28 deuce game vs Fillippini at 1996 Casablanca



http://articles.latimes.com/1996-04-16/sports/sp-59110_1_davis-cup/3

Doesn't add up....62 points in 20 minutes, on clay to boot...

That does look like a problem, it would mean 3 points per minute.

This link has the numbers reversed: http://voodemar.com/?page_id=1307
"Alberto Bersategui wins the longest game (28 minutes, 20 deuces) – Casablanca"

That would be 46 points in 28 minutes.

 

[suwanee4712]

I loved Chris's game, but when she played Manuela I wanted to slit my wrists...:shock:

I HATE moonballers which is why I could never be a fan of the mind-numbing clay court games of Sanchez Vicario and Martinez. But I never really minded Chris' battles with Manuela because every ball had a purpose to it and you could see the strategy. It was about positioning, nuetralizing Chris' flat ground strokes, and getting a shot at a short forehand which was Manuela's best shot. These exchanges wouldn't last forever. Manuela was a lot like Andrea Jaeger, the older she got the less she moonballed.

I'll never forget the experience of having watched Sanchez in Rome one year where there was no point to the moonballing. It's just what they wanted to do to see who would miss first. There was another match in Paris around 1994 or 1996 when the French fans just started booing Sanchez and whoever her opponent was.....might've been Habsudova. By the time the match ended there were scarcely 100 people left on Court Centrale.

I suppose there actually was a point to Martinez's constant moonballing against Capriati in 1990 or 1991 at the French. They were on an outside court and it looked like Martinez wanted to see if she could make the ball leave the court off one bounce. But I guess she figured that was her best chance to win....and she did.

 

[krosero]

Connors-Laver

Wonder if PC1 or others remember anything about a long game that Connors and Laver played in their Challenge Match in '75. It was reported as 22 points, or 8 deuces. It was Laver serving at 4-5 in the fourth set, and he finally held after saving 5 match points.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...146970&dq=connors+laver+deuce+22+points&hl=en

I don't know if there's any surviving footage of that game and I've never seen it. My highlights of the match end in the middle of the fourth set: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SptdffCeVmM

 

[krosero]

37 deuce game

A link given to me by someone else, looks like an alltime record: http://www.sportscomet.com/Tennis/217927.htm

"The longest known singles game was one of 37 deuces (80 points) between Anthony Fawcett (Rhodesia) and Keith Glass (Great Britain) in the first round of the Surrey, Great Britain Championships at Surbiton, Surrey, Great Britain on 26 May 1975. It lasted 31 min."

 

[bauer5152]

I recall Borg against Vijay Amritraj in the 1974 US Open had a really long game in that match at 4-2 for Vijay in the fifth.

I think Borg and Laver had a really long game (from reading about it) in their match in the 1975 WCT Championship.

It's not something I keep track of but I'll try to think of some.

Edit-I tried to find some newspaper accounts of the Borg/Laver WCT match but the only thing I could find was that it was a 4 hour and 5 minute match. I would guess there were some long games. I thought I read something about them playing a twenty point game or so. Could be wrong.

I also think so.

 

[hoodjem]

Probably (in terms of time) when Chris Evert was playing on clay. How long does it take to hit 100 moonballs? Then they have to play the second point.

Yes. I would think a Evert-Austin match would have some long games.

 

[krosero]

I think Borg and Laver had a really long game (from reading about it) in their match in the 1975 WCT Championship.

It's not something I keep track of but I'll try to think of some.

Edit-I tried to find some newspaper accounts of the Borg/Laver WCT match but the only thing I could find was that it was a 4 hour and 5 minute match. I would guess there were some long games. I thought I read something about them playing a twenty point game or so. Could be wrong.

I also think so.

You guys were right. The Sports Illustrated report (posted in the other thread) has Laver breaking Borg in a 17-point game to force the fourth-set tiebreak. The Chicago Tribune had it as 18 points (6 deuces) which is probably correct (17 points is actually not possible).

 

[Tshooter]

Any game that started and I'm not in my seat feels like the longest game ever.

And any game involving Solomon verse Dibbs.

 

[krosero]

In 1952 on the pro tour Pancho Gonzalez beat Jack Kramer from two sets down in the final at Wembley, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 7-5.

This excerpt is from Joe McCauley's History of Professional Tennis:

"Kramer, after squandering a 2 sets lead, led 4-1 then 5-2 in the decider and only conceded his service at 5-5 after 13 deuces. Big Jake was so upset at losing that he was reduced to tears afterwards in the dressing room."

 

[Moose Malloy]

last game of Razzano-Williams was 12 deuces

 

[Moose Malloy]

11 deuce game, Evert-Jaeger '82 Amelia Island

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji9d1tOp7VM&feature=g-vrec

 

[krosero]

At 2008 Masters Cup, Federer held in a 10-deuce game at 4-5 in the third set against Murray (his serve was hampered with back pain in that one).

 

[BeHappy]

Here are some highlights from that Borg-Laver WTC 1975 match

http://youtu.be/o5sBBFQfcNU?t=10m19s

As far as the topic of this thread goes, the longest game ever was probably between two players we've never heard of. I saw the German player Berrer get into 25 minute game against someone else I can't recall.

 

[BeHappy]

Here are some highlights from that Borg-Laver WTC 1975 match

http://youtu.be/o5sBBFQfcNU?t=10m19s

As far as the topic of this thread goes, the longest game ever was probably between two players we've never heard of. I saw the German player Berrer get into 25 minute game against someone else I can't recall.

Have you all seen this already? It only has 700 views on youtube so I'd assumed you hadn't.

 

[krosero]

Sanchez Vicario and Graf played a 12-deuce game in Hamburg in '94. Arantxa held for 1-3 in the second set.

 

[Mustard]

2010 Dubai R32: Andy Murray def. Igor Kunitsyn (6-2, 6-3)

Murray held serve in the first game. The second game took over 24 minutes, had 14 deuces overall, before Murray broke for 2-0.

It was something like 44 minutes gone before they sat down for the first time after the third game.

http://gulfnews.com/sport/tennis/murray-kunitsyn-play-second-longest-game-in-open-era-1.587249

 

[kiki]

1980 tie breaker at the men´s Wimbledon final.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Fed won a 10 deuce game vs Murray at 3-2 in the 3rd set of the Wimbledon final

 

[smoledman]

2011 AO QF Nadal vs Ferrer, had a 18 minute game.

 

[BTURNER]

Another 26 point/10 deuce game in the second set of an Evert/ Sabatini semifinal in Worcester indoors (V. slims of New England '87). Evert won the first three points w/ backhand winners before things got complicated. She won the game off an impatient Gabby error. there were 6 successive breaks thereafter. Drop shot was perfection in this match

 

[krosero]

Another 26 point/10 deuce game in the second set of an Evert/ Sabatini semifinal in Worcester indoors (V. slims of New England '87). Evert won the first three points w/ backhand winners before things got complicated. She won the game off an impatient Gabby error. there were 6 successive breaks thereafter. Drop shot was perfection in this match

Thanks for this one. Who was the server?

 

[BTURNER]

Thanks for this one. Who was the server?

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/images/editor/menupop.gif

sorry for the delay. Been on vacation x 4 days. The server was Evert.

 

[Moose Malloy]

9 deuce game won by Robson vs Stosur, 2-5 in the 2nd set, 2012 USO

 

[krosero]

Dutra Silva held in a 9-deuce game at love-1 in the second set against Djokovic last week. One of only 5 games that he won.

And Del Potro held after 8 deuces to force the second-set tiebreak against Djokovic in the quarters.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Kerber held in a 9 deuce game at 4-4 in the 2nd set vs Azarenka in Istanbul

 

[Moose Malloy]

Ferrer held after 10 deuces vs Llodra at Paris Masters, 1-1 1st set

 

[Moose Malloy]

Serena held after 13 deuces at 2-4 in the 2nd set vs Azarenka at Cincinnati.

 

[krosero]

I believe that was at 1-4 (Serena served second in that set).

Funny, I was watching that match today while doing other things, paying closer attention as it went on. I saw the score was 1-4 in the second set. I went away for something like 20 minutes, then saw that the score was still only 2-4. I did a double take and knew it must have been a marathon game or something.

She saved 8 break points in all.

Great match today.

 

[krosero]

13 deuces yesterday in Wawrinka's hold at 1-all in the fifth vs Djoker. Saved 5 break points.

 

[1477aces]

Agassi-Baghaditis USO 2006 2rd. 4-4all in the fifth Agassi serving. 9 deuces, Agassi won

 

[abmk]

13 deuces yesterday in Wawrinka's hold at 1-all in the fifth vs Djoker. Saved 5 break points.

that was one helluva long game. It was well past 1 in the night here and I was wondering when it would end

 

[Moose Malloy]

13 deuce game won by Graf to go up 3-2 in the first set of the '92 Barcelona Olympics Final vs Capriati

 

[Moose Malloy]

Venus broke Radwanska in 12 deuce game to go up 4-3 in the 1st set at the Australian Open

 

[krosero]

New list

15 deuces, 1932 Pacific Southwest R16, Stoefen held at 3-5 in third set, saved 6 match points, lost to Perry

13 deuces, 1992 Tokyo Indoor R64, Connors held in second game of second set against Byron Black

13 deuces, 2004 WTA Champs. semi, S. Williams held at 4-3 in third set against Mauresmo

11 deuces, 1957 Los Angeles RR, Segura held early in decisive third set, saved 7 break points against Trabert

11 deuces, 1958 tour match at Kooyong, Hoad held at 16-all in fourth (his last serve) against Pancho Gonzalez

11 deuces, 2003 Wimbledon R32, Stepanek held for 3-all in second set, saved four break points against Philippoussis

11 deuces, 2005 Rome final, Coria broken at 3-5 in third set, saved 6 set points, lost to Nadal

11 deuces, 2013 RG R128, Paire held in sixth game of third set, saved 6 break points against Baghdatis

11 or 9 deuces, 1980 RG, McEnroe broken at 6-5 in fourth set, lost 7 set points, lost match to McNamee

10 deuces, 1934 pro tour match in Gainesville, GA, Vines held to open second set after losing first, defeated Tilden

10 deuces, 1954 Davis Cup CR, Trabert held at 1-all in first set, saved 6 break points against Rosewall

10 deuces, 1987 USO semifinal, Wilander held at 3-2 in fourth set, defeated Edberg

10 deuces, 1988 RG semifinal, Graf held at love-1 in second set, saved 5 break points, defeated Sabatini

10 deuces, 2014 AO quarterfinal, Murray held for 1-all in the fourth set, saved 7 break points, defeated Federer

10 deuces, 2014 Indian Wells R16, Li Na served out match at 5-3 in second, saved 2 break points and lost 10 match points against Wozniak

10 deuces, 2014 Madrid semifinal, Nishikori serves out match, lost 8 match points (including triple match point), saved 4 break points against Ferrer

9 deuces, 1936 Wimbledon final, Perry held to open the match, defeated Von Cramm

9 deuces, 1988 Wimbledon SF, Lendl held at 2-3 in the fourth, saved 4 break points against Becker

9 deuces, 2014 Monte Carlo QF, Ferrer broken at 2-1 in first set, saved 5 break points against Nadal

8 deuces, 1925 Davis Cup CR, Lacoste held in second game of the match, lost to Tilden

8 deuces, 1956 pro tour match in Palm Beach, Trabert broken at 8-all in the first, defeated Pancho Gonzalez

8 deuces, 1957 Wembley Pro final, Rosewall broken at 2-love in the fifth, defeated Segura

8 deuces, 1963 Los Angeles semifinal, Hoad held at 1-all in the third set, saved 2 break points, lost to Laver

8 deuces, 1993 RG final, Courier broken to open third set, saved 7 break points, lost to Bruguera

8 deuces, 2006 USO, Agassi held at 4-all in the fifth, saved 4 break points, defeated Baghdatis

8 deuces, 2011 AO, Nadal broken in second game of second set, saved 1 break point, lost to Ferrer

8 deuces, 2011 USO final, Nadal broken at 2-love in the second, saved 5 break points, lost to Djokovic

8 deuces, 2012 Shanghai semifinal, Federer held to open second set, saved 7 break points against Murray

7 deuces, 1928 Davis Cup CR, Tilden held at love-1 in the first set, saved 4 break points, defeated Lacoste

7 deuces, 1955 Davis Cup CR, Trabert held to open the third set, lost to Hoad

7 deuces, 2015 Wimbledon SF, Murray held at 4-5 in second set, saved 5 set points, lost to Federer