This bonkers Wimbledon match lasted more than 6.5 hours — and still isn't the longest in tournament history
Kevin Anderson became the first South African to reach a Wimbledon final in 97 years, and you really, really can't say he didn't earn it. Anderson beat American John Isner on Friday … 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24.
The match lasted six hours and 36 minutes, making it the second-longest singles match in Wimbledon history and the longest match in the history of the Wimbledon Centre Court, writer Ben Rothenberg noted. And lest anyone forget the unsung heroes of the match — the fans who had to sit and watch the whole thing:
Somehow, Isner has played in an even longer Wimbledon match, against France's Nicolas Mahut in 2010. That match went for more than 11 hours, with Isner defeating Mahout 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68. It took three days to complete.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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