New Record in Davis Cup is Set

Written by: Staff on 3rd February 2013

New Record in Davis Cup is Set

epa03566734 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic returns the ball to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during the third single match of the Davis Cup World Group First Round tie between Switzerland and the Czech Republic in Geneva, Switzerland, 03 February 2013. EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI |

A record was broken at the weekend in Geneva as the longest match in Davis Cup history was played. The Swiss and visiting champion the Czech Republic were the protagonists as Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol won the longest match in Davis Cup history.

The epic lasted a shade of seven hours and ended with the Czech pair posting a win over Marco Chiudinelli and Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 24-22.

The World Group first-round marathon lasting seven hours, two minutes went comfortably beyond the previous mark of six hours, 22 minutes when John McEnroe stopped Swede Mats Wilander 9-7, 6-2, 15-17, 3-6, 8-6 in 1982 before the tie-breaks era.

The doubles win stands as the second-longest ever in the sport after the 11 hours, five minutes it took American John Isner to defeat Frenchman Nicolas Mahut at 2010 Wimbledon.

The Czechs needed 13 match points to close out the record-setter, which ended on a double-fault. But the result could leave Wawrinka and Berdych vulnerable for their reverse singles rubber on Sunday. “Ice bath done! Now massage and food. Let’s be ready for tomorrow,” said Wawrinka on Twitter.

Switzerland are without Roger Federer while the Czechs, who beat Spain for the title in Prague three months ago, were missing injured Radek Stepanek.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Davis Cup, geneva, Lukas Rosol, Marco Chiudinelli, Sports, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych