Top Five Longest Men's Singles Matches in French Open History

The French Open is famous for a lot of things—its rich history, the unique red clay, and the way it challenges even the best players in the world. Clay courts slow the game down, making rallies longer and matches tougher, both physically and mentally. Sometimes, the competition goes far beyond just winning or losing. When two players give it everything they have got, battling point after point, the real winner is the sport itself.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five of the longest, most epic men’s singles matches ever played at the French Open also known as “Roland Garros”.

5. Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner: 5 hours and 29 minutes

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner delivered an unforgettable showdown at Stade Roland Garros during the 2025 French Open final. After dropping the first two sets, the young Spanish star staged an incredible comeback that seemed almost impossible. Alcaraz not only defended his title but also became just the third Spanish player to win the clay-court Grand Slam twice.

What made this final even more remarkable was its length — it became the longest men’s singles final ever at the French Open. However, the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era still belongs to the 2012 Australian Open clash between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, which went on for a staggering 5 hours and 53 minutes.

4. Alex Corretja vs Hernán Gumy: 5 hours and 31 minutes

The third-round showdown between Alex Corretja and Hernán Gumy at the 1998 French Open ranks as the fourth-longest match in the tournament's history. Battling under the Parisian sun, the two players tested each other’s endurance and resilience for an epic five hours and 31 minutes on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

Aside from the one-sided opening set, the rest of the match was a fiercely contested battle, with Alex Corretja ultimately outlasting Hernán Gumy in a grueling five-set thriller: 6-1, 5-7, 6-7, 7-5, 9-7.

3. John Isner vs Paul-Henri Mathieu: 5 hours and 41 minutes

John Isner’s name is well-known when it comes to marathon tennis matches. He holds the record for the longest match in the Open Era. But he’s also been part of some of the longest battles on clay, including a memorable showdown at the French Open.

Back in 2012, Isner faced French player Paul-Henri Mathieu in the second round at Roland Garros. Mathieu lost the first set in a tiebreak but fought back to take the next two sets. The match was tight and intense, but it was the fifth set that truly stood out — lasting nearly two and a half hours. Mathieu finally edged out Isner with a 18-16 win in the deciding set, taking the match 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 18-16.

The stats tell the story of a gritty match: Mathieu made 40 unforced errors, while Isner, who went all out with 107 winners, also committed 98 unforced errors. For eight years, this match held the spot as the second-longest in French Open history — until 2020, when a new epic match pushed it down the list.

2. Lorenzo Giustino vs Corentin Moutet: 6 hours and 5 minutes

The epic clash between Lorenzo Giustino and Corentin Moutet at the 2020 French Open was truly unforgettable. The match kicked off with Giustino being bageled in the first set, losing 0-6. But the Italian didn’t back down — he fought back fiercely, winning the next two sets in nail-biting tie-breaks, 7-6 (9-7) and 7-6 (7-3). Moutet roared back to claim the fourth set 6-2, setting the stage for an intense, grueling decider.

The final set was a marathon, stretching all the way to 18-16, with Giustino ultimately prevailing. After an exhausting 6 hours and 5 minutes on court, the scoreboard read: 0-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 18-16 in favor of Italy’s Lorenzo Giustino.

Throughout the match, the players battled through 459 points, producing a combined total of 145 winners and 184 unforced errors — a true testament to the mental and physical endurance required on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

1. Fabrice Santoro vs Arnaud Clement: 6 hours and 33 minutes

The longest match in French Open history was played between two former French tennis players, Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clément. They faced off in the first round of the 2004 French Open, with Santoro comfortably winning the first two sets. However, as the third set began, fatigue appeared to catch up with Santoro, turning the match into an intense battle.

Clement capitalized on the opportunity, winning the next two sets 7-6 (7-5) and 6-3. However, the true test for both tennis stars came in the grueling fifth set, which stretched to an intense 30 games.

The match lasted a total of 6 hours and 33 minutes and was played over two days. Ultimately, Fabrice Santoro triumphed over his countryman Arnaud Clement with a final score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 3-6, 16-14 in the first-round encounter.

Cover Credits - Tennis.com