World no.3 Alexander Zverev defeated Jenson Brooksby in three sets at the Mexican Open in a first-round contest.
Defending champion Zverev won 3-6 7-6 (12-10) 6-2 with the match ending at 4:55am local time in Acapulco. A marathon second set was clinched by the German in 1 hour and 51 minutes.
It is the latest ever finish for a professional tennis match. A late conclusion was always on the cards as the match did not start until 1.30am.
The previous latest finish was 4:34am when Lleyton Hewitt beat Marcos Baghdatis at the 2008 Australian Open.
Alexander Zverev and Jenson Brooksby Set a New World Record
The Zverev-Brooksby clash at the Mexican Open started well after midnight and the duo slugged it out for 3 hours and 19 minutes.
The German claimed a 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), 6-2 victory having saved two match points in the second set tie-breaker.
???? A new tennis record!
Alexander Zverev’s victory over Jenson Brooksby is the latest a match has EVER finished ????
It ended at 4.55am local time in Mexico… pic.twitter.com/bU2t9ZCpTk
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 22, 2022
After a 43-minute opening set during which Brooksby broke in game eight, the second set lasted nearly two hours with not a single break of serve.
Although Zverev saved three break points in game seven while the American saved a set point in game 10.
However, it was a 111-minute second set that did the damage, with Zverev saving two match points in a mammoth tie-break before sending it to a decider.
The deciding set was a lot more straightforward with an early break easing Zverev into things before a second break in game seven eased him over the finish line at 04:55 in the morning.
In an interview with atptour.com after the match, Zverev said, “Right now I’m happy that I won. I don’t know how Jenson feels, but it must be difficult.”
“I’m happy to be a part of history. It was an incredible battle, I think it was an incredible match, and hopefully many more to come from me this week.”
“Today I didn’t play my best, there’s no doubt about it, but I didn’t give up. I knew that I want to do well, I’m the defending champion and I want to give myself the best chance to win. I did well to survive.”
It will be an all-German clash in the second round as Zverev will play lucky loser Peter Gojowczyk.