The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the season where top tennis stars from all over the world try their luck on the red dirt. Spanish legend Rafael Nadal holds the record of lifting the French Open for a record-extending 14 times.
And at the same time, along with epic matches over the years, fans have witnessed some of the marathon encounters here which are also some of the longest matches in tennis history. Tennis, unlike some other sports not played with a fixed time limit and go on for hours and hours until the winner is decided.
At Wimbledon, the longest tennis match was played, in 2010 while the longest one at French Open was between Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement. In 2023, the epic second-round clash between Daniel Altmaeir and Jannik Sinner found a place in the top-five list.
5 longest matches in French Open history
Without any further ado, here is everything you need to know about the five longest matches at French Open.
Daniel Altmaeir vs Jannik Sinner (2023)
In the second round of the 2023 French Open, Germany’s Almaier knocked out Italy’s Jannik Sinner 6-7(0), 7-6(7), 1-6,7-6(4),7-5 after a dramatic five-hour, 26-minute clash in the second round. Altmaeir ranked 79, reached the 3rd round at Roland Garros for the first time since his debut in 2020. With his, he also overcame a top 10 player for the second time; the first being his win over Matteo Berrettini at Roland Garros in 2020.
Altmaeir played one of the best defensive games against Sinner and saved two match points when the Italian was serving for the match in the fourth set at 5-4. For the first time, the German could make it past the second round of it French Open.
Alex Corretja vs Hernan Gumy (1998)
Spain’s Alex Corretja, 14th seed, reached the final of the 1998 French Open by beating Argentina’s Hernan Gumy 6-1, 5-7, 6-7, 7-5, 9-7 in five fours and 31 minutes. Corretja advanced to his first of the two Grand Slam finals. In the final, he was outclassed by his Spanish compatriot Carlos Moya.
John Isner vs Paul-Henri Mathieu (2012)
Well in 2010, Isner played the longest match in the history of tennis by beating Frenchman Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in a match that lasted for a whopping 11 hours and five minutes and had spread over three days. The then 10th seed Isner again faced another France native, Paul- Henri Mathieu in the second round of the 2012 French Open.
But the result of the red dirt was against the American. He lost the match to Mathieu 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 18-16 in five fours and 41 minutes.
Lorenzo Giustino vs Corentin Moutet (2020)
In 2020, the Roland Garros was held in the autumn season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Italian qualifier Lorenzo Giustino, in the first round, overcame local boy Corentin Moutet 0-6, 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 18-16 in six fours and five minutes
Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement (2004)
From Davies Cup teammates to becoming fierce rivals, two Frenchman, Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement’s encounter in 2004, with six hours and 33 minutes of the first-round clash, was the longest French Open match in the history of the tournament. The match was played over two days where Santoro defeated 32nd-ranked Clement 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 16-4.
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