How Long Do Tennis Matches Last? – A Complete Guide

Any form of sport requires a bit of study to understand. The basic rules will help you know the mark if you are a beginner. And if you are a regular follower of the sport, you will see it inch by inch. The same goes for tennis. But if asked how long do tennis matches last, most people will have different answers. That is because there is no fixed time for a tennis match. But over the years, several rules have been applied to make it less lengthy as it becomes strenuous for the players. Studies have been conducted, and they have found an average time that each tennis match can last. So without further delay, keep reading the article to learn about the length of a tennis match.

How long do tennis matches last? The Average Duration of a Tennis Match

The average duration of a tennis match depends on the format in which it is being played. Men’s and women’s categories are played in best of threes during any Challenger Tour or ATP Tour. But when significant tournaments like Grand Slams are played, the match becomes the best of five. In that way, we can divide it into two formats:

Length of Tennis Match During Best of Three Format

The average length of a tennis match being played in the best-of-three format is 2 hours and 15 minutes. Note that this is the average time. It more or less depends on the players. If a player wins 6-0, the match will end much faster and within 30 minutes. But if a player wins by 6-4, 4-6, or 5-7, the game can extend beyond its average time. Even more, time is required when there is a tiebreaker.

Length of Tennis Matches During Grand Slams

Grand Slams are played in the best-of-five format. So the average time increases to 3 hours and 20 minutes per match. Like a three-set match, it can end before or after the average time, depending on the players.

Length Of An Average Set In Tennis

Determining the average length of a set in tennis is difficult, but few studies have been conducted regarding the matter. The most recent ones suggest that the average time that each group requires is around 40 minutes. Now this can differ when certain situations come into play. One of them is that a set becomes shorter when one player dominates the other and wins by 6-0. The other is that it becomes longer when the score is 5-7. Another point that comes into play is the location where it is played.

If the match is played on a grass court, like at Wimbledon, it will lead to shorter rallies, and the set will most likely end before the average mark of 40 minutes. But if it is played on clay court, like the French Open, it will lead to longer rallies as the play becomes slow, increasing the average length of a set.

Shortest and Longest Tennis Match

The shortest match ever recorded was in 1946, when Jack Harper defeated J. Sandiford in 18 minutes at the Surrey Open Hard Court Championships. While the longest game ever recorded was between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, The former defeated the latter in a match that lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes at the 2020 Wimbledon. The game scored 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, and 70-68. Read More – Top 5 Tennis Players with Most Medals in Olympics

FAQs On Tennis Match Length

Read More: Top 5 Richest Tennis Players in the World