Tennis game is interesting because just the duration of a single game has shocked the world. Find details.
How long is a tennis match? How long a tennis match or game takes can range from 1.5 hours to 5 hours on average. Most female games best of 3 sets last about 1.5 hour to 3 hours on average. Male tennis games best of 5 sets last 2.5 hours to 5 hours. Longest game time ever in best of 5 sets for male was 11 hours in 2010.
Although there is no standard tennis match time lim it to terminate a game until the winner is realized, tennis match time limit for serving is between 20 seconds to 25 seconds. In major events games, how long average tennis match takes is between 1.5 hours to 5 hours depending on the set being played.
It can be assumed that tennis match can even last forever but the winner breaks the final time. Generally, tennis time duration for a game varies depending on several factors such as:
- The type of tournament: best of 3 takes shortest time, best of 5, or best of 7 takes the longest time
- The gender involved: women take shortest time compared to males
- Breaks in between the match also affects the overall time a tennis game can last
How Long Is A Tennis Set?
A tennis set can last on an average time of about 1.5 hours to 5 hours. A set in a tennis game consist of 6 games. On average, a single game in a set can last about 45 minutes.
However, the time to complete the game can be shorter such as 20 minutes or longer even hours depending on how long it took for a winner to win the game.
Tennis game can be grouped in several sets. How many sets in a tennis match can either be a best of 3 sets or a best of 5 sets. So, we can say that how many sets in tennis are two: best of 3 sets and best of 5 sets.
a. Best Of 3 Sets In Tennis Game
In a best of 3 sets, a tennis player who wins the first 2 sets of the match is the winner. On average best of 3 sets can last about 1.5 hour to 3 hours. The highest female record breaking time was about 6.5 hours. Men can also play best of 3 sets.
b. Best Of 5 Sets In Tennis Game
In the best of 5 sets, the tennis player who wins the first 3 sets is the winner. On average the best of 5 sets can last about 2.5 hours to 5 hours. The highest male record breaking time in best of 5 game was 11hours.
| Name of the Set | Normal Average Duration | Historical Highest Time Record |
| Best of 3 sets (women/men) | 1.5 hours to 3 hours | 6.5 hours highest women record |
| Best of 5 sets (men) | 2.5 hours to 5 hours | 11 hours men record |
Longest Tennis Match Ever In Tennis Game History
Men Tennis Game
In the year 2010, one of the most historical male Wimbledon championship games broke the time record to playing tennis. The game entailed two competitive players, Nicolas Mahut from France and John Isner from America. The two players played for over 11 hours for a best of 5 set tennis game.
Final score of Isner vs Mahut vs was
- Set 1: 6-4
- Set 2: 3-6
- Set 3: 6-7 (7-9)
- Set 4: 7-6 (7-3)
- Set 5: 70-68
Women Tennis Game
Despite an average time for best of 3 in women games lasting about 3 hours, the record was broken in 1984. The tennis game lasted on an average time of about 6.5 hours. The female tennis competitors were Vicki Nelson (USA) and Jean Hepner (USA) with a score of 6-4, 7-6.
You can check the actual time stamps of how the longest tennis game in history occurred.
Duration Of Tennis Game Major Events
With slight variation of tennis rules, the main types of tennis events include:
- Grand Slam tournaments
- ATP Tour
- WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tournaments
Grand Slam Tournaments can also be said to be major tennis game. Grand Slam Tournament is managed by the International Tennis Federation. Tennis players reaching the Grand Slam levels are well paid.
The tournament has the highest tennis ranking points. Beside, since the tournament is major, it attracts more media and public attention compared to other minor tennis tournament.
Grand Slam tournament is often played in a very high quality tennis court. More sets of games such as best of 5 for males can be played. The games include singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Grand Slam tournament categories is divided to cover the entire year in terms of 4 main groups.
Both best of 3 sets (1.5 hours to 3 hours on average) and best of 5 sets (2.5 hours to 5 hours) is played in a Grand Slam Tournaments. The longest Grand Slam Tournament, Wimbledon match of 2010 lasted over 11 hours.
Grand Slam is grouped in various Grand Slam Tours allowing tennis game to be played in various countries.
Grand Slam Major Tournament Categories
1. Australian Open
Australian Open tennis tournament often takes place in mid January within two weeks period. The type of tennis court used during Australian Open is hard courts.
2. French Open
French Open tennis tournament is played around late May to early June within two weeks period. The tennis court used in the French Open is clay courts.
3. Wimbledon
Wimbledon tennis tournament is played during the month of June to July within two weeks period. Wimbledon tennis game is often played on a grass tennis court.
How long is a tennis match at Wimbledon? On average, it takes 1.5-3 hours to complete a best of 3 set and 2.5-5 hours to compete a best of 5 match. The longest tennis match was in Wimbledon that took over 11 hours.
4. US Open
US Open tennis tournament often occurs in August to September within two weeks period. Hard courts is used in the US Open.
Other Types Of Grand Slam Tours Include:
- BNP Paribas
- Miami Open
- Monte Carlos Masters
- Italian Open
- Cincinnati Wester & South Open
- Laver Cup Boston
ATP Tour
ATP is an acronym for Association of Tennis Professionals. ATP is in charge of male’s tennis circuits at the professional level. ATP tour runs about 64 tennis tournaments that can be done in 31 countries globally including the continent of Europe, Australia, Asia, and America.
Top males tennis competitor gets an opportunity to compete with other competitive male tennis players in different countries using various venues. Rankings at the ATP Tour Masters include 250, 500, and 1000 events in addition to Grand Slams events. The best top 8 tennis players of doubles and singles can compete in the Nitto ATP Finals.
During the ATP Tour, men can play either best of 3 sets or best of 5 sets. Thus, the tennis game can last about 1.5 hours to 5 hours or even more until a winner emerges. Normal average time for best of 3 sets is 1.5 hours to 3 hours. Normal average time for best of 5 sets is 2.5 hours to 5 hours.
ATP Tour is further categorized into
- ATP Tour
- ATP Challenger Tour
- ATP Champions Tour
- Grand Slam (Is also played)
Women’s Tennis Association Tour
WTA is the acronym for Women’s Tennis Association Tournament. Similar to ATP, WTP is mainly tennis tournament for women. Best of 3 sets is usually played during the WTA.
Average duration to play the best of 3 sets in WTA can range from 1.5 hours to 3 hours. However, the time can still extend. Longest women tennis game of best of 3 set was in 1984 that lasted about 6.5 hours.
Main categories of WTP include:
- WTA Premier
- WTA International
- Grand Slam
How Long Is A Tennis Match In High School?
An average time that a high school tennis match can take is about 1 hour or 60 minutes. In some cases, a winner can emerge after playing a tennis game within the first 30mintues to 60 minutes. However, the time taken can be more since there is a lot of time wastage in waiting.
Conclusion
How long does a tennis match/game last can vary with most average games lasting 1.5 hours to 5 hours. Best of 3 sets game last about 1.5 hour to 3 hours while best of 5 sets game last about 2.5 hours to 3 hours. Record breaking time for women was about 6.5 hours in 1984 while record breaking time for men was 11 hours in 2010. Generally, tennis fans and players are very patient since there is no minimum or maximum time limit for a tennis game as long as the winner emerges whichever time.
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