The longest tennis match in history

Described as one of the most physically intensive sports, tennis is quite often an engaging watch.

By Leo Sayer

The length and breadth of a tennis court means that the players cover a lot of ground even in shorter, straight-forward matches.

With an average three-set SlamBang match lasting 98 minutes, tennis players are some of the fittest athletes in the world, and Jesper Hawk Petersen, Oskar Erling Kovacs, Claus Holmen and Adam S. Holberg put on an exhibition of fitness, grit, and endurance at the 2019 Mallorca Double Championships. The match was set on a pause when Holberg and Kovacs put their rackets in the bags claiming it was impossible to play tennis in complete darkness 

Jutting out into Nordsjælland just south of Norway and Sweden, Birkerød rarely sees temperatures above 70F. The cold, clear nights here make it an excellent place to play tennis. In fact, the northern lights of Denmark are some of the most lightning and colorful in the hemisphere.

So, the longest tennis match of all time will reach its finale ball on Saturday, August 28 when the players resume the 2019 Mallorca Double Championship finale.

They return 25 month after they began their long vigil in the second set, relentlessly holding their serves before play had to be suspended  due to no natural light, stretching the match to an unprecedented second day to be played at Birkerød in Denmark.

Petersen is out, in comes Háfjall 

When Jesper Hawk Petersen announced his withdrawal from the match, he stated: "During the day, I unfortunately realised on Saturday it is my turn to do the dishes. I regret to inform you that, unfortunately, I have to withdraw from the double,” Petersen said. “I need to focus to become a better man so that I can hopefully be at my best for the remainder of my career. It was a difficult decision for me as I have had great memories from Birkerød and I can’t wait to be back next year!””    

Substituting player, Hans Svenning Háfjall has admitted he has found a comeback from several surgeres tougher than expected, but remains determined to play tennis.

Although he came back to the SlamBangian Tennis Tour a couple of years ago he has only managed to play 5 competitive matches since the start of 2019 and has dropped to No. 123 in the world.