WebTennis Contest – What’s The Longest Tennis Match In YOUR History?
The Winner Receives Brent’s “All Lesson DVD Package” – 19 Lessons – A $351 Value
- I’ve played some long matches in my tournament career, but obviously nothing like what Isner & Mahut went through this week.
I can think of a few matches where I was out there for four + hours, but only one of them gave me the feeling that I imagine what Isner and Mahut must have gone through.
And that for me was the need to stay patient, wait for my chances (which were few and far between),and not panic & get frustrated and then start making excuses.
I played Canadien Peter Burwash in the singles finals of a 35s senior tournament in Lake Tahoe back in the mid 80′s.
Every point seemed like a dog fight. Maybe it was the altitude up there at lake Tahoe that made us just a hair hesitant to really let the strokes fly, but he and I just couldn’t finish off points.
I don’t remember exactly how long we played, but it seemed like forever.
At the end of the match, it was the classic warrior embrace up at net, lots of respect for the each other, and I was really fortunate to end up winning that match 7-6, 6-7, 7-6.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way comparing my match to what we were just treated to at Wimbledon over the past 3 days, but watching that match this week on TV, I was able to identify with what Isner & Mahut were having to do.
And that for me was to stay calm, stay patient, and to not consider just how close the match was and how quickly it could be lost with one or more little mistakes.
What about you? – What’s been the longest match you’ve ever played?
A singles or doubles match that was so memorable that you’ll always remember that day, that match, your opponent, probably even many of the points that were played, something that happened that made the match either turn your way or against, and on and on…?
What is it the sheer length of time out on the court, the inability to close it out, points or games that just went on forever, you know what I mean, what was it about the Isner – Mahut match that jogged your memory of your longest match in history?
Was there anything in that match that you wished you could have done differently?
Pour out your heart…!
“Your Longest Tennis Match” Contest Rules
OK, here’s how we’re going to have a little fun.
Enter the contest by submitting your longest match story in the Comments section below.
You’ll have until this Sunday evening at 8pm PDT to get your longest match story entered.
I’ll take a couple of days to read and digest all of the stories, act as the chair umpire, and then by next Tuesday night, I’ll announce the winner of the contest based on which story I think is the best…
(That’s some kind of power that I’m heaping on myself…).
So, get to it. Go on down to the comments section below and let me / us know about the longest tennis match in your history!
Remember, if you don’t enter, you don’t give yourself a chance to win an “All-Lessons DVD Package” that currently includes 19 lessons and sells for $351.
Whoa…
And if you’re already the fortunate owner of an “All-Lessons Package”, go ahead and tell us your longest match story, and if you win the contest, you and I will work something else out that I’m sure you’ll find worth every minute you spend telling us that story of your longest match.
Contest Closes Sunday Night June 27, 8pm Pacific Daylight Time
Have fun out there…!
Brent
Are You A Competitive League Or Tournament Player?
How To Win More Points, Games, Sets, & Matches
Hi Mr. Abel,
That match between Isner and Mahut was definitely something else! It is amazing the stamina both of those players had. So my longest match took place during a qualifier match in the Boys 16 singles. The player I was playing against has been playing for years, and was supposed to wipe the floor with me. My father told me to stay patient and calm like what you did against the Canadian you played. The match must have been atleast 2-2.5 hours. So not the longest match ever but the score sure was close, the score finished at 7-5, 5-7, with a third set tie-breaker score of 11-9. Fortunetly I was luck enough to pull out of the match with a win! Thanks for all the work you do, you site is one of the few that offer great online tennis instruction! Thanks for all the work you have done!
Sincerely,
Vick Chhabria
My longest match was one pro set, that is up to a score of 8, win by 2 with no ad scoring. “How can that be your longest match?” you ask. I’ll tell you.
Someone once said, “The length of a minute is determined by which side of the bathroom door you are on.” I guess when you are busting to go, a minute is a lot longer than if you’ve just gone.
I remember when I was a kid and school was ending for the summer. It was heaven and I was going on vacation for ever. September was too far away to even contemplate. For all intents and purposes I was free for the foreseeable future. For a while, as a kid, time stood still. So what’s that got to do with tennis and my longest match? Well, I think a short time can be a long time.
Last September, I fell off my dirt bike. It was a silly thing really. I was about 10 miles up the side of a mountain on a grassy knoll toodling along at about 20 miles an hour in the high grass. I was wearing all the safety gear, body armour, riding boots, helmet and knee protection, when suddenly my front wheel dropped into an unseen rut and kicked sideways. The bike went one way and I went another. I rolled onto the ground and got up ashamed for falling in such a stupid way. Then I noticed my right thumb wasn’t working. My thumb had gotten caught on the front brake lever and in that fall a tug of war ensued between my bike and my thumb. The thumb lost. It was badly torn right out of its socket.
What followed was surgery and for about 6 weeks a big honkin pin was sticking out of my thumb where the surgeon had drilled through my thumb bones into my wrist effectively nailing my thumb into one of my wrist bones. I couldn’t even do up a zipper let alone hold a tennis racquet. I couldn’t even touch my thumb and forefinger together to make an okay sign. My tennis bag sat on the floor untouched and unloved for far too long. I was depressed. “Will I ever play tennis again I asked the surgeon?”
“With any luck probably” was his reply.
“Will I get some feeling back into my index finger which is still numb”, I asked. “We are not sure.”
“What about the bone splinters that are still in my wrist” I asked. “Let’s see how well it heals first” was his reply. I made some slow gradual progress and one day six months later I felt I could open the tennis bag and just try to hold my racquet. It hurt to hold the racquet, but I COULD ACTUALLY HOLD THE RACQUET! After much therapy, I was now able to touch my thumb to my pinky finger, but barely.
A couple of months later I was playing my first pro set of doubles in nine months. My wrist was taped and I was wearing a wrist brace tightly strapped. Pronating the wrist on my serve was out of the question, so I just tried to dump the ball in on my serve and place it well. Every serve sent searing pain into my wrist. But I was playing tennis again! Almost every shot hurt if I didn’t hit it completely in the sweet spot of the racquet. Now there’s incentive to watch the ball go into and out of your racquet.
I tell you, when almost every shot sends a searing jolt of pain into your wrist, a game is a long, long time. A set lasts for ever. Oh, but I was on a tennis court, one of my favourite places to be and I was playing tennis! After what seemed to be an endless set, the score was 8 – 2 for us. How sweet it is. I shook hands with the players left handed – can’t have anybody shake that wrist. The opposing team was stunned. I couldn’t stop smiling. I’m back I thought. Not all the way yet, but back. Ah…. I wanted that moment to last forever.
Mike Hahn
mhahn@cib.ca
In 1988 at the ripe age of 38 I played a 7and one half hour singles match! This was a small town
city tournament and I was the defending “ladies open champion”. I played a older lady from a large city in another state-so of course I was nervous.
The temp. that day in July was about 96 (about 110 on court) and we played on hardcourts. For hours and hours we hit endless groundstrokes with few volleys. It was my first encounter with gamesmanship—-I would hit a shot that she could not reach and she would say a paper cup, leaf,
piece of paper, anything had blown on the court and she would call a let. UNREAL.
Another twist was the fact that I went down with excruiciating cramps rather late in the day–but
I refused to quit. A tennis playing doctor (kidney specialist) was pumping fluids down me and insisting
that that I retire the match. No way. This same doctor called my husband and told him to get to the
tennis courts and get me off that court! My husband did come but I told him the same thing–”she may
beat me, but I am not quitting”.
Many folks wandered in and out–going home, having lunch–swimming with the kids, etc., coming
back and we were still out there in that sweltering heat!!
I did end up winning that match. 3 sets of course-not sure of the scores.
In many ways this was a life changing situation for me. Never, Never, Never ever give up!
I might add that this match was talked about for years and years around town. I even played a
tournament in Memphis and it was brought up.
Not too long after I gave birth to my daughter, at the age of 43, I entered the Club Championship singles tournament. My opponent was the daughter of a former Club Champion, a marathon runner and only 27 years old.
The first set went quickly, with me winning 6-2. We played the the first few games of the second set and then it started to rain. The match resumed the following day, after she had a chance to receive some coaching from her mother.
She came out playing a completely different game. She stopped hitting the ball hard and going for winners, instead she kept the ball in play at all costs, looping topspin over and over. We played two sets for close to four hours in the sweltering heat until i was too exhausted to move – I kept on playing, but I didn’t have any umph left. The girl went on the win the Club Championship and I was the only opponent able to take a set from her. This is my Club Tennis claim to fame, my fifteen minutes of tennis stardom.
What did I learn? When I am playing an older opponent that has better shots and more experience, wear them out.
At my home town Monterrey, Mexico in a Tournament organized in the seventiees by a News Paper I won by points the rigth to play with the best players of different Clubs that had won also sufficient points and we all went to play, with all expenses paid by the News Paper to the Pacific Ocean city of Mazatlan, including air fare, hotel and food. So it was an excelent allready price, well earnead. My partner and I, after winning a few matches, we got to the finals and is here where under severe heat and long first two sets,winning one and loosing the second ,followed by a long set that ended in a Tie break. We where down 0-6, and ended the Tie break in our favor winning seven points in a roll. I remember this event and tresure our beautifull Crystal Lead trophy with an small tennis raquet inside, with great honor and in all the years that I have play tennis I have never encounter such an special event and probably I will never do.
Dear reader(s)
Why bother you with my longest tennis match? It’s good enough for me to remember that Saturday two years ago. Playing mixed doubles with my wife in the veteran competition. It was blistering hot: 26C in the shadow. No shadow on the court! We played a couple we’d played before and lost without a chance to win. This time was different. We lost the first set in a tiebreak 10-8. The second set was ours in another tiebreak 7-5. And the third? Yes we lost again. And again in the tiebreak 7-3. Not only did we need those tiebreaks to decide the sets, we had a lot of deuces as well. I’m not sure if it took us two or two and a half hours. That was not the point. It looked like it took all day. And as I said it was blistering hot and our teammates sat at the veranda of the clubhouse, beer in hand (several)while we were working our hearts out.
The best thing was next year in the return-match on our artificial grass when we slaughtered them in two straight sets. and in about three quarters of an hour.
Nico
For me, the longest tennis match i’ve played isnt that far away. I’ve been playing for my high school team, for two years now (junior and senior year) and i can recall the match of my life back in junior year. My team didnt exactly have the funds to rent courts from time to time and free courts were always so crowded. So most of the time we had to practice on sidewalks or in eachother’s backyards. It was definitely difficult but we all worked hard to overcome our obstacles. At the start of the season, we had to face many different teams. Some not as good as us, but more that were unbeatable. I recall having the match of my life in Central Park. It was the first time we were going to play any kids from the city and i was extremely nervous. As i walked onto the court, i could feel my heart beating tremendously. The other guy showed up, changed, and even looked like a good tennis player. We shook hands, and the match started. Instantly, i could see how long he had been all of his life and how well he was. His serves seemed to fly by in less than a second. We were playing until either player reached 10, of course they had to win by 2. Before i knew it, he was up 2-0. Then, it was 2-1. Then 2-2. I felt fantastic as i caught up and my confidence began to take over. Even though i was matching up to his strength and skill, he still controlled the game. He would win a match, then i would. And it would carry on like this until it was 8-8. Although we were both exhausted, he seemed more tired. I had been riding off of the adrenaline from keeping up with an excellent player like him. It seemed to me like i was Falla going against Federer this week. With all odds against me, i was hanging against this guy who had been playing since he was 10. So i decided to just play the point, and try and get that victory. With intense rallies and increasing serve power, i was able to gain a match on him. making 8-9. To me, this wasnt the last match at all. At any time, things could turn around. Although the sun had moved in the sky, and it seemed i had spent my whole teenage life playing this match, i was in it to win it. I served him for that match. We both had equally matched exhaustion as winning the 40 all point seemed impossible for both of us. By a leg cramp on his part, i was able to get the advantage point. The next time i served, i knew i had to put this away right then and there. I went for the serve intending to hit a weak spot i had established on his side. I threw of the ball, and followed through. It all seemed like that slow motion point in the movie for me where everything changes. I served ball, and when i had looked over, i saw his racket completely miss. After making sure it was in, i became so ecstatic. It was my first ace on this star player through the game. I felt amazing as i rejoined my team outside of the court. Although we lost all of our other matches that day, i had the time of my life. The celebratory pizza afterwards could only verify how hard and long we had played the other team that day. I hope i have just as many great games like that for the rest of my life.
I have been involved with a few but the one that sticks out in my mind was 2 summers ago. I had learned that I had bad bone spurs in my hitting shoulder and need surgery to continue to play. I was only going to play 2 more matches and then have surgery so I wanted to get my last 2 matches in. I often played through pain and relied on ice packs and ibuprofen following my matches.
I was playing a 26 year old heavy topspinner who was leading my 4.0 division at the time. His game is built around movement and consistancy. My game was built around a good first serve and first strike tennis. With an ailing shoulder and in 99 degree heat I knew that this was either going to be a short afternoon or a long barn burner. First set I went down 2-6. in about an hour. He seemed to have an answer for everything I threw at him and I sensed that he felt like he was toying with the “old man” ( I was 47 at the time.) I have always prided myself on big heavy groundstrokes and have struggled in the past against counter punchers or “pushers”. This guy was somewhere in between. I was creating my own pace all day and I was making lots of mistakes. My feet were’nt moving either.
I was down 1-5, match point in the 2nd set and decided at that point to stop playing the score and just hit every ball as well as I could and “keep the feet moving” and hope that he gets tight. This kid had a good game but it was a one dimensional basline game, so I decided to take a bit off my shots and use height and spin to keep him back and I started looking for any opportunitty to close in and finish the point at net. Before I knew it, I was back in the match at 5-5. I kept mixing serve & volley with all court tennis and after 3 hours had won the 2nd set 7-5. My opponent was visibly frustrated and I felt that if I just focused on each point and forget about the score that I may have a chance.
3rd set seesawed back and forth. He had tightened up his game and was now going for winners instead of just keeping the ball in play. He was trying to shorten the match now as I saw he was visibly getting fatigued. He was making more errors but also hitting more winners. He was also visbly frustrated and probably in disbeleif that he was till on the court. I stuck to my strategy and decided that I was going to keep him out there as long as I could. I always keep very fit and although the intense heat felt like my head was in a vice, I was not getting tired. I was Serve &Volleying on 1st & 2nd serves and chipping & charging returns on both his serves. 4 hours after we started we were at 6-6 3rd set. I felt that if I could just hang with him I may have a chance. He served & volleyed for the first time in the match, and poorly, I might add and I went up 3-0. He seemed lost & frustrated and I ended up winning the tie break 7-1.
4 1/2 hrs in blazing heat, down match point 1-5 in the 2nd set and I came all the way back and won the match against a guy 20 years younger than me and ranked higher in the division. Even though it was just a meaningless league match, (I was already out of the playoffs) I had no idea how my arm was going to be post surgery and I wanted to leave everything on the court that day and I did.
Now I never panic regardless of the what the score is. That is the beauty of tennis. It is never over until the last point has been won.
My longest match is quite simple to describe. In 1977, not long after the US Open, I meet Jeff Fishback’s doubles partner fresh from the Open. This was my best match ever and I can not remember his name. He was here in Berkeley visiting his girl friend. He had an arm load of Jack Kramer Autograph Model woodies, all with normal stringing. I had my trusty Slasanger rackets. My serve was at its best. I had no double faults and was able to move it around and place it where I wanted. His game mirrored my game. His serve was a little off and just the right pace for me. I was serve and volley all the way, and I moon balled when he was serving. When he came to the net I was able to pass or hit a lob. I won the first set in a tie breaker 7-6 (14-12). He picked his serve up a little and won the second set 6-7 (9-11). I came back and won the third set 7-6 (16-14). The match was just under four hours long.
Ask Bill Leslie to write about his match with Tom Brown. I will call him and suggest it to him.
My most memorable and longest match was when I was just a senior, in 1994 I believe, just 19 yrs old playing my first tourneys ever.
Match going all the way to a tie-breaker 3rd set. 3 and a half hours on court.
Funny thing though about tennis in general and also in this match, you always seem to remember 2 things. Usually who won the match, though often people forget, but even more, those one or two special points. And boy did we have one…!
Having missed about 20 breakpoints already, exchanging several breaks up to 6-6 and both feeling this was a huge chance and a must win opportunity, I was up 5-4 in the tie breaker… And then it happened, I chipped a short ball, opponent reaches it and moves up to the net, I lob him, perfectly, thru the middle of the court, he runs for it, while I approach the net, for sure I get it, this must be 6-4 and matchpoint, but no, somehow he slices it Ivanisevic like thru his legs, facing the fence and not knowing where to pass me… Ball is coming at me, spinning sideways, all I have to do is kill this volley right at my forehand, lil side-step, but the ball is spinning so much it comes of my racket and ends up in the next court…
Totally amazed at how he got this ball back and how I could miss it, about 30 people start shouting and applauding… We were so caught up in our fight, we didn’t even realize people were actually watching our game…
So 5 all in the tie-breaker… I hit an ace, matchpoint… Hit an easy forehand in the net, and another and another, game over… 8-6 tie-breaker lost…
Analyzing the game as a pro, you might reason percentages and court positioning are most deciding in any match and making to many mistakes and missing 20 break points may have cost me this match.
But the reason I play tennis, and the fun I get from tennis is in those few special points you always remember the rest of your life.
About 12 yrs later I met this guy again. One look was enought to bring back this memory, he still knew as I did, not who won the match, but that one special rally ball hit between the legs…
Well, this is my second attempt at writing this as my internet crashed just as I tried to send first time around! Better luck this time! My longest match was back in the summer of 2003. I’d entered a National Singles League in an attempt to improve my rating. I was 43 years old at the time. ( I only started playing seriously when I was 40.) I travelled around the country playing matches during the league stages, often playing girls much younger than myself as it was an Open Tournament. It was very enjoyable and I managed to progress to the knockout stages. The semi finals and finals took place on the same day at the National Tennis Centre in Nottingham. My semi final began at 10am and I was playing a 17 year old girl. Having won the first set 6-0, I had my eyes firmly set on the final. However, the second set was a different story as my opponent changed her tactics and started to play more conservatively and not make so many errors. I was taken a bit by surprise and lost that set 6-4. So it was all down to the 3rd set. Well, it turned out that both of us were determined to win, or more accurately, neither of us wanted to lose!! Every rally and point seemed to go on and on, with neither of us wanting to make an error and lose the point! So a final set tie-break it was and I can’t quite remember the final score in that, only that I eventually managed to win it! The whole match had taken 6 hours! Of course I was delighted, but also felt sorry for my opponent. I didn’t have long to reflect or recover before I was back on court for the final. This time the match was a much more reasonable length- 11/2 hours approx. I think I was just running on adrenalin as I played a much better match, managing to win in 2 sets. I will always treasure the trophy I won that day. Also the medal for effort that myself and my semi final opponent got given a while later by the organisers of the tournament.
I learnt a lot that day and vowed to continue to try to improve my tennis, develop a winning shot and be more aggressive at the right moments. This I am still trying to do! My rating has improved and I have won quite a lot of trophies and tournaments since. I am passionate about tennis and sharing what I have learnt with others. I find your tennis tips very helpful Brent.
On the whole, I do finish my matches quicker these days. However, my last singles match, a quarter final of our district tournament, lasted 41/2 hours before rain stopped play with the score at 7-6, 6-7, 4-1 deuce, to me. We managed to complete the match yesterday: 6-2 to me in the final set!
I’m now looking forward to going to Wimbledon next Monday with my family. Hope we see some great tennis too!
Two weeks ago, I was on the short end of a 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 match that had me thinking back to a match I won in 1966 in a 12 and under tournament. I lost the first set 7-5, won the second 9-7, and the match was to be decided by a marathon third set. No one broke serve through the first 30 games, and then we each broke. At 16-16, it was clear that neither of us had much left in the tank. Even so, neither was ready to give up. Early, in the next game, my opponent rushed the net, I hit a shot that dipped over the net, which he then popped up. I came in for an overhead that caught him on his forehead, sending him staggering several steps back and falling. I was distraught, thinking I had really injured him, as people crowded around him and I hung over the net, asking “is he alright?” The coach of the high school team I later played on came up to me and said, “don’t worry, when they take him to the hospital, they’ll think his name is Wilson from the imprint on his forehead.” The comment relaxed me. Play soon resumed, but the fight was taken out of my opponent, who was plainly afraid of coming into the net, letting me hit a number of drop shots to win the game. I then won my serve to finish the set 18-16 for a victory that I remember vividly 44 years later.
Brent,
I’ve had some long days of tennis. For example, I played both singles and doubles on the high school tennis team and once we played two schools in one day. Each of my four matches that afternoon and evening went the full three sets, so I ended up playing 12 long sets of tennis in one day. I had terrible cramps in the bus coming home late that night.
But that was nothing compared to the longest match I played just last summer as a forty-eight year old just getting back into the game. (I had been out of the game for over 10 years because of some chronic health issues.) So last summer I picked up the racket again and was playing in a doubles tennis league. The team I played against had an extra player and my partner couldn’t make it so I ended up playing three on one. I was having a terrible time controlling my forehand, lost the first set 6-0 and I fell behind 5-1 in the second set. (I’m still having trouble controlling my forehand even though it used to be my biggest weapon.) I finally decided I was not going to go down without a fight, so I changed my tactics and began charging the net on every point and battling for every point rather than throwing in the towel. I have not lost my volley or my serve, so I determined to control the net and force them to pass me or lob over me. We were using no-ad scoring and several times I was down 0-3 in a game (quadruple match point against me), but I dug out of each hole. I came back and won the second set 7-5. Then the third set we traded games up until 4-4 but then I got down 0-3 in another service game. Again I was determined not to come this far back and still lose the match, so I fought off four more match points and won the game. Through out the whole match they kept rotating in fresh bodies and I came close to collapsing from exhaustion several times but refused to give up. I fought off about 16 or 17 match points throughout the match and finally went on to win the match 0-6, 7-5, 7-5. That’s my longest match and sweetest victory.
Not long after that match I had a bad bicycle accident and have had to lay off the game until this summer. Larry DeHaan is helping me get my game back, but he also highly recommended your instructional videos. Like everyone else, I would love to win this prize package!
It was just meant to be. Technology developments in strings, racquets, … are too much so that touch and skills are becoming irrelevant. In this case, Isner with his height and the technology can send down so many aces but at the same time his limited movements allow Mahut with his better movements (abeit being shorter) and similar technology to record many aces and winners too.
It is boring, definitely, but that is not about the players and their incredible wills. It is more about the state of tennis game nowadays. The likes of Federer are becoming extinct while the likes of Nadal (Incredible yes, interesting/artful/skillful NO) gain ground.
I’ve had some long matches for my college team this year but my longest was definately a match I had in the first round of a tournament in West London a couple of years ago. I remember the guy had a very low ranking but in the first game in which he served he kicked a second serve over my head! After knuckling down to win the first set 6-3, he won the second 7-5, and then we actually got to play a no tie-break third set (for some reason this tournament still plays by this rule). In the end it became about fitness and movement, so i slowed the play down to win 8-6 in the third, no Mahut vs Isner but still it was a 2 and half hour match!
Well my story about the marathon match is actually 2 matches, I was in the finals of a singles tournament for the local community tennis club. The match started at 11 am and I had a doubles match scheduled for 2 pm.
I was playing a guy who was a bit older than I am, and was a very patient consistent player. My style is more serve and volley, and taking the net. We had some epic points just trading off cross court shots going forehand to backhand some for more that 10 shots, I ended up taking the first set 6-4, only to find that the rush style works really well in doubles it is entirely exhausting in singles. The second set came and I had to play even more conserved, though getting into 5 games where the score went to duece I came up empty on the second set, and because it was the finals of the tournament we had to play a third set. By the end of our second set most of the other matches, and some of which went to a 3rd set were over. We battled out the third set and at 1:55 pm, about 2 hours 45 minutes into the match, I was at the critical 5-5. It was my serve and I remember thinking if I had to get to my doubles match, and it was going to be this game that decides it, if I win the game I will throw all my energy into breaking next game and take the tournament, else I will make sure to loose the next game quickly so I do not default my doubles match. I do not remember all of the details but I fought to hold my serve but in the end I lost it. So to get the match over with in a manner which I could make my doubles match, I committed 4 forced errors, ended up loosing the match with the score 4-6-6-0,7-5, and shook my opponents hand, grabbed my second place prize, took a picture and bolted across town to play my doubles match. Eating an energy bar that I had in my car for some quick energy.
So 10 minutes after my almost 3 hour singles match I joined my doubles partner at 14 minutes past the start time of our doubles match, and the first couple of games I was a bit sluggish and fighting off muscle strain that I had from my singles match, which hampered my side to side motion, which for an aggressive net player is hard to do. The team we played was a fair match for us, we started the match at 2:15 in the afternoon, and we played a match that lasted until 5:30. We had a perfect matchup in terms of the players, one strong net player with a strong serve, partnered with a steady base liner. It seems in the 3.0-3.5 level that formation works very well. So as the base liners battle it out the net players put themselves into position, getting into a threatening position and waiting until they get a shot they can put away. The first set we nabbed at the last moment at 7-5. The second was a battle and a half for us, and we went the distance, but loosing it 6-7(9:7), and we were the home team, and before the match started we had decided that a 10 pt. tie breaker would be the way that we would end this. We pulled out the tie break at 13:11. When I got off the court that day I figured that I spent 5 hours on the court playing matches, plus I had a lesson that morning with my instructor.
Half past two in the afternoon, the front end of summer in Southern California. I pull into the tennis club parking lot as the car thermostat teeters above 95 degrees. Armed with a small Gatorade and a large iced water container, I feel ready for a good USTA 3.5 ladies doubles match. Little did I know what I was up against.
Warm-up was sluggish and limited, as our team didn’t want to exert too much energy. The heat and sun were bearing down. No shade. My partner arrived just in time, having come from a prior mixed doubles match in the earlier heat of the day. I worried about that being too much play in the sun….We started in on the match at 3:00pm. Three of us served, nothing to note…and then the fourth woman readied herself to serve. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce…. It was hot, and I was just warming up to the game, so I didn’t think much of it, but that these were slow, deliberate bounces, not comparable to Djokovic’s. We won the first set, by a slim margin. After a fashion, I started noticing, was it eleven bounces she was doing before her toss? No, it wasn’t a pattern. The next time I counted up to 13. Then it kept escalating. At one point I counted 27, and then realized, “I gotta focus.” Her bounces were defeating me. So, I tried not to count, tried to focus, but then I found my thoughts started drifting…to wondering how it couldn’t be bothering her partner, to wondering if it was legal, to wondering if it was over 20 seconds each time. My soles were starting to burn from the heat. At transition moments, I poured water repeatedly on my head. Finished off my Gatorade, started in on some water. It was hot. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I am not too up on the USTA rules, as I just recently joined and prior to that was in a city league with perhaps different rules, but admittedly, I didn’t know those well either. But I remembered something about 20 seconds between the last play ending and the serve. But did that include bouncing or tossing? Whatever the case, I had to believe this was abusive. As we broke between sets, of all people, the “bouncer” was the one who commented, “I can’t believe how long this is taking us.” Regrettably, I bit my tongue. By the time we split sets, I was starting to get a bit delirious. The heat was making it hard to think clearly, hard to figure out how to win. It was time to call in the troops. I phoned my husband at 6pm and asked him to leave the BBQ nearby. I needed some support.
A court with some shade opened up as everyone else finished and headed off home for dinner, so we did move finally. (As we relocated, the bouncer’s partner divulged to me that her partner was driving her crazy. She had never played with her before!) When my husband first arrived, at 6:30pm, I totally threw away my serve, due to self-consciousness, but then, the killer instinct finally kicked in. If I was going to die in the heat, die in front of my husband, I was going to die a winner. We won, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, at 7:20pm. In the last few minutes, my legs started cramping. I knew this wasn’t good, but I was not going to lose. I guzzled down all the ice water I could, but it was too little too late. At our final winning point, my husband started the applause, but the others who remained watching joined in begrudgingly, as they were supporting our opposition. As I went to the BBQ, I could tell my body was spent, but I had no idea yet how extreme it was. As we drove home from the BBQ, I suddenly screamed for my husband to pull the car to the side of the road. My legs were completely in spasms of cramps, I had to walk, had to do something. A cop stopped, inquiring if I was alright. “Fine officer, just a little cramp.” I was up all night with severe dehydration, extending into half of the next day. I survived.
Four hours, twenty minutes… do I have regrets? Yes! In these past few weeks since then, I have consequently learned the value of closing a point. Closing has now taken on life-or-death proportions to me, so I am doing it…or else. I also learned how important it is to know the rules, and when you know them, trust that knowledge and SPEAK UP. I should have spoken up, regardless of whether I was right or wrong. Speaking up at least removes some of the distraction and let’s the opponent know you’re onto them, if nothing else. And, in hindsight, if the heat weren’t tainting my brain so, I should have probably thought to return the serve more often to the net person, now realizing she was probably just as crazed and distracted by the bouncing as well, and would never know when the ball was coming to her either. And, I will never again go without bringing, and DRINKING, several BIG bottles of Gatorade, and LOTS of water.
As a fellow tennis player who watched the Isner match for days, I enjoyed reading your account very much. And, of course, the big question everyone had with the Wimbledon match was how they could have lasted so long without a bathroom break. Did you have one, or were you too dehydrated to need one?
I really don’t know how they lasted so long w/out a break.
I’ve played long 4 hour + matches without a break, and I’m sure some of it is due to getting to some level of dehydration.
Brent
Hey Brent,
Let me preface my story with what happened one year prior to the match that remains vivid in my memory. Junior year of college, my dad passed away on May 1st. District tournament was the following week and I played in it. I lost at #4 singles final in three sets, thinking I had really damaged my team’s chances of winning the title. Going into the three doubles finals, our team had 23 points and was participating in the #2 and #3 finals. Another team had 23 points and also had a team in the #2 and #3 doubles final. The team in first had 24 points but only had one team participating in the #1 doubles final. My partner and I were in the #3 dubs final. Our #2 team won in straight sets first. That got us to 24 points. We were up 6-4, 5-4 changing sides when I noticed that the team in first just lost at #1 dubs. I looked at my partner and said “You hold serve here, and we’re going to Kansas City.” He served his best game, we won at 15, with match point being one with an overhead by me that I got higher for than any ball ever. We finished at 25, second was at 24, and third was at 23. Then jubilation and celebration commenced.
The next year, my senior year, districts were a week earlier. I had advanced to the #3 singles final and played the final a year to the day that my father had passed. I was up 7-6, 4-0 and had a game point that I pushed wide to go up 5-0 in the second. My emotions were to the point that I wanted to win so badly that it affected me negatively. I lost the second set 7-5. I was down 3-0 and two breaks in the third, managed to get even at 3-3, only to lose four hours from the start of the match 6-3 in the third.
That match will ALWAYS stick out in my mind as the most painful match that I will EVER participate in. But that loss also made me a better player in the future, it made me a better teacher of the game, and it’s made me a better coach to be able to put that match in perspective. And it taught me a great deal about life in general. Through this journey of life, one will experience the highest of highs and one will suffer the lowest of lows. In relation to tennis, those two matches were a microcosm of life – the highest of highs by winning the clinching match to advance your team to nationals and the lowest of lows by losing a heartbreaker in your last college match..
I played Tom Brown in 1981 in the 35′s sectional tournament at Meadowbrook Club in Seaside, CA . It was probably only three hours long, but since I am still playing it in my mind, I think it was, and is, the longest match ever played.
Since, Tom was, I think, about twenty eight years older then me, since he was entered in the 45′s as well, and since he had been running that morning, I decided I would serve and volley, hit a lot of drop shots and lobs, and make him move.
After he passed me four times in the first game on my serve and volley approach to the match, I realized that strategy would not win out. My next service game I stayed back, but after forced to hit ten deep knee backhands on the first point chasing his inside out forehand, I realized the exchange of ground strokes would not win ether.
Out of desperation it was time for the strategy I saw utilized in 1980 at Rolend Garros by some of the women at that time …the moon ball. I saw Tom would not take any balls out of the air so my strategy was to hit moon balls until one landed near the baseline and then charge the net.
The first set went to a tie break, I was down 6-1 but rallied to win 8-6. The second set went to a tie breaker and I lost decisively 2-7.
At this point I didn’t try to hide my cramps –I even had to pry my thumb loose every time before a point.
I could not run around any anymore, so , for better or worse, I had to serve and volley again.
The new balls for the third set saved me. I served well and won 6-3. My adrenalin came into play also, since Tom would say “nice junk,” and other pleasantries on the odd game switches. I was twenty eight years younger, had not entered another division, and had not been running miles that morning –these factors had not escaped my attention ether.
That was my all time night-mare match, even though I won. I never felt so inept on the court.
Back in 2002 and before kids, my wife and I had started to play NTRP tournaments around Northern California. It’s not unusual in tournaments to play more than once in one day. However, when it comes to tennis endurance for myself there’s one day that will always stand out. It was August at Johnson Ranch in Roseville. Anyone who knows this area understands that it can get warm during the summer. Well, this day temperatures were to top 100 degrees so I was scheduled to play in the semis for a mixed doubles match with my wife as well as the semi’s for singles. If I were fortune enough to win either I would be playing the finals the same day.
Being a serve and volley player I knew I was going to need every ounce of energy on this day. The first match was against a one of the top seeds. I was certainly overmatched in pure skill and thus dropped the first set. I figured the only way I was going to beat this guy is by pounding the net almost every point. Somehow I managed to outlast my opponent 4-6; 7-5; 6-2.
Next up was the mixed dubles semis, a relatively straight forward match against two older, but crafty players who loved to drop and lob. Just what I needed, more running. We won relatively easily, but were required to run all over the court to win our points. Score 6-2; 6-3.
Now for the singles finals: The temperature now nicely over 100 degrees against the top seed who rarely looses and is widely known for his craftiness, yes more drops and lobs. I didn’t think I could get though this match and consumed so much water, Gatorade, and bananas the tourney ran out. Somehow on my last tank managed to pull off a close 4-6; 7-5; 6-2 win as both of us were dragged off the court.
I had forgotten that I still had a fourth match to play that day – the mixed dubles finals. Although I really was completely spent I had never retired a match and I could not let my wife down so I rallied to play one more. I knew we needed to shorten the points to conserve energy if we were going to be victorious. I remember that I kept going to the back of the fence where there was a small patch of shade taking as much time that I was allowed. Our opponents we certain that I was faking all this and think they were annoyed by my “tactics”. As hard as we tried we lost a close first set 6-4. I was feeling so poorly, but my wife picked me up and almost single handedly won the second set at 6-2; She too played a singles match and now was also exhausted. Okay so it’s only one more set right? I can do that, well after another hard fought 5 games my body finally just shut down. I vomited and could no longer move to play. After 4 matches, 11 sets, and on the 101st game of the day I regrettably retired.
Insult to Injury: As my wife drove us back home late that day all I could think of was a nice cold shower and getting to bed. But to add insult to injury, we arrived home at night to a driveway of cars. Confused we entered the backyard to find some friends (no longer now) had crashed our house and decided to have a hot-tub party with other guests. Needless to say we ended it abruptly. As I approached the house to finally relax my wife screams. I race (ok crawl) to her to find that we were totally inundated with ants in our kitchen. 2 hours later after clean-up I finally got that shower and sleep my body craved.
No 70-68 fifth set, but for a middle age recreational player my own struggle of endurance.
Hey Brent, it’s Wally from the Great White North (Nipissing), eh?
It’s just mystical how you mention Peter Burwash (the flying canadian) whose book Tennis for Life is one of my personal favourites! I can imagine Peter throwing himself (literally) all over the court to keep the balls coming back your way!
Anyhoo, lots of great stories to be read, thanks for sharing everyone! My story is a little different and I hope significant in some way – feel free to psycho-analyze it, Brent! So here goes…
Way, way back when I was young, about 13, I had finally made a break thru – winning a clay court championship final (6-0,6-1) against a local rival who previously had my number.
My ego was at an all time high so I was quick to enter the next regional tournament on clay. As I arrived, it looked like rain, and sure enough, play was delayed. Most kids my age were busy chatting or playing games. I was still pretty stoked about my prior win, but when I looked to the draw, I saw that I had to play the #1 rank (1st round) whom I did not know. My nerves sunk in, and I was worried. But the rain kept coming off and on, matches were poorly scheduled, and I had alot of time on my hands.
I found myself meandering back and forth within the confines of the club, thinking of my win, and wondering about the upcoming match. My worrying state of mind slowly changed, and I imagined how I would play this match. I thought of how focused I had been to win a tournament, and that I could do it again somehow. My meaningless meander shifted up a gear, and I felt the confidence growing until I was literally high with anticipation. I was so anxious to get on that court!
A few hours passed but I stayed in that mode till finally the call came… but wait a minute… the tourney is so backed up that we are sent to the practice court to play our match – A HARD COURT ! What a curve ball!! But as I said, I was too much in a zone to notice. Well, all I can remember about the match was that I had to hang tough to tie it at a set apiece. At the break, my father encouraged me to press on.
Well I did just that, and you would be proud of me Brent – I noticed that when I came to the net, he was nervous and missed, especially to his forehand. I perservered with this strategy even if he passed me and sure enough, he started to make errors, even on his serve (his strength). I came out with the win in a long 1st round match.
I think I remember this match because of the hours I spent psyching myself up before I even set foot on the court, and how it affected my mood, etc.. during the match.
Even more interesting, that same day, I lost the 2nd round to a very good player whom I thought I could beat easily. In fact, as I found myself being beaten, I began to make a complete jackass of myself. I’m still embarrassed just thinking about it. I was holding up play (as the receiver) and throwing my racket, and worst of all, after another miserable point, I struck a ball out of frustration which headed towards my opponent. I yelled,”Watch Out!” but too late – the ball landed square on his shoulder as he turned forward. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. I apologized again, and to his credit, my opponent forgave me. We played on, or more truthfully, my opponent played on while I plodded along deep in shame. Then, correctly, he cried,”Aren’t you even going to try?!” which just goes to show you what a class act he was. I mustered up some courage and tried to give him what he deserved but to no avail. Later, in the car, my dad gave me an earful…
OK, so that was actually 2 matches but in my memory the whole day seems like one woven drama.
My expectations, fears, and dreams before match play certainly mattered as much as the actual court time. And for all the impatient, short tempered, and overzealous persons, know this – the mistakes you make on a tennis court can haunt you till your grave. Some might say “get over it”, but for me, this match will never be over.
Great idea, Brent! Now that I’ve set the tone, maybe the next blog should be “Tennis Confessions”! HA HA HA!
Have a great day, Brent!
Hi Wally and always an honor to hear from you.
You and I started way back in the days when I was selling my lessons over on eBay years ago.
Sounds like you’ve just purged that experience from your past and you’re now a new man ready to get prepped for the US Open!
Hey, a lot of us, me definitely included, have mad complete and utter asses of ourselves out on a tennis court.
It’d be interesting to read what others have done in this category – Things we’ve done during a match that we’ve totally regretted.
I’ve got as many stories as the next guy, for sure.
And the same reaction for me as it was for you, total shame and embarrassment. I wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.
What’s turned the tide for me is to think about the other player(s) on the court and what a miserable experience it is for them that I’m creating.
Especially in a practice match. Hey, in a tournament or league match, if my opponent wants to make a fool of themselves, then by all means, go for it dude, but in practice, it just makes it zero fun.
So, glad to hear your dad gave you an earful, and you’re right, it’s tough to get over it, but there does a come a time when you just gotta drop it and trust that you’ll never go to that place again…
Brent
Thanks Brent,
As always, I take your opinion straight to heart and mind.
Take it easy,
Wally
Appreciate it Wally. Nice to have you actively back with WebTennis!
Brent – Volley Lesson
Brent,
After reading the previous tennis victories and defeats I felt compelled to tell my mine which happens to be the last match (I attempted to play). It was not my longest match, but I know I will always remember it.
I started playing tennis after retirement at age 60. I have been very pleased with my progress over the past 3 yrs even though my USTA rating is still 3.0. Living in South Carolina the summers are very hot to say the least. We usually play early to avoid the hottest part of the day.
I was invited to play on a 6.5 Summer Combo team and that was an invitation that I could not turn down. Imagine an invitation from the captain of the team of the best 3.5 players at our facility. I was scheduled to play the first match scheduled for 5:00 in the afternoon at a facility that I had never played before. As I drove there I realized it was 103 degrees.
The facility was hard courts in the sun with metal benches, no shade with lots of ants that love tennis bags. I realized quickly that it was very, very hot and humid on the courts!!! Easily 106 degrees or more as the heat radiated off the courts. But no one seemed concerned about the heat.
The line up partnered me with our captain (who I had never played with before). I quickly realized half way thru the first set that the heat was going to be more than I could handle. I had plenty to drink and had drank what I thought was enough before the match that afternoon.
But I got to where I was unable to move to the ball and after starting our first set winning we ended up losing 6-4. Then after two games of the second set I knew I could not continue. (nauseated, dizzy, and just plain sick) I had to retire which I had never done before and was terribly embarrassed as the others did not seem to be having any problems playing in the heat..
What a come down from riding high. I am going to have to face the fact that I will not be able to play in that kind of heat. I just wish I had learned that lesson in a different situation.