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6/24/10 5:04 PM | Johan Lindahl
Fitness was a massive question mark as Wimbledon's freak-show first round match - ten hours long and still going on - resumed between John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
The pair who were called off court by darkness for the second night running in the match which refused to die stretched to an astounding ten hours with a fifth set - still unfinished - lasting seven hour, six minutes and counting.
The final set alone is well beyond the mark for the longest match ever played, a mere 6:33 at the 2004 French open as Fabrice Santoro beat Arnaud Clement. The run of Serena Willimas over seven metches to the 2009 women's title lasted only one hour more than the men's ultra-marathon fifth set.
The longest previous match at Wimbledon was the five hours 28 minutes as Greg Holmes beat fellow American Todd Witsken in 1989.
Frenchman Mahut looked to be the fresher of the warriors, still on his toes as the giant Isner lookked close to toppling over from fatigue.
The intended finish to the match will depend on the efficiency of what had to have been treatments including possible intravenous drips, ice baths and the ingestion of loads of liquids and carbohydrates.
"Nothing like this will ever happen again. Ever," said Isner as the pair left the court. ""Someone has to win so we'll come back tomorrow," added Mahut, ranked 148th and a qualifier who won a 24-22 match in that competition last week.
While the battle was raging, Roger Federer was asked his opinion. "This is absolutely amazing. In a way, I wish I was them, in some ways I wish I wasn't them. This is a very special match. I hope somehow this is going to end."
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