The Tennis Match That Took Three Days

At Wimbledon in 2010, two players walked onto Court 18 for a first-round match. Nobody expected anything special. John Isner was an American, tall, with a powerful serve. Nicolas Mahut was French, lower-ranked, and not famous outside of tennis. Their match was scheduled for one afternoon.

Huko Wimbledon mwaka wa elfu mbili na kumi, wachezaji wawili waliingia kwenye Uwanja wa Kumi na Nane kwa ajili ya mechi ya duru ya kwanza. Hakuna aliyetegemea jambo la kipekee. John Isner alikuwa Mmarekani, mrefu, mwenye huduma yenye nguvu. Nicolas Mahut alikuwa Mfaransa, wa cheo cha chini, na hakuwa maarufu nje ya ulimwengu wa tenisi. Mechi yao ilipangwa kuchezwa alasiri moja tu.

It did not end that afternoon. It did not end the next day either.

Haikuisha alasiri hiyo. Wala haikuisha siku iliyofuata.

The two players began their match on Tuesday, June 22. Neither of them could break the other one's serve. They played through three sets, then four. By evening, with the score at two sets all, the umpire stopped the match because of fading light. They would have to finish tomorrow.

Wachezaji hao wawili walianza mechi yao Jumanne, Juni ishirini na mbili. Hakuna aliyeweza kuvunja huduma ya mwenzake. Walicheza seti tatu, kisha nne. Kufikia jioni, bao likiwa seti mbili kwa mbili, mwamuzi alisitisha mechi kwa sababu ya mwanga kupungua. Ilibidi wamalize kesho yake.

On Wednesday, they came back. They played the fifth set, which has no tiebreak at Wimbledon. They would have to win it by two games. The score climbed: 10-10, 20-20, 30-30. Mahut held his serve. Isner held his. Eventually it reached 59-59. The crowd watched, silent, almost embarrassed. The match had to be stopped again. Light, once more.

Jumatano, walirudi. Walicheza seti ya tano, ambayo huko Wimbledon haina mchezo wa kuvunja sare. Ilibidi mshindi apate ushindi kwa michezo miwili zaidi. Bao liliendelea kupanda: kumi kwa kumi, ishirini kwa ishirini, thelathini kwa thelathini. Mahut aliishikilia huduma yake. Isner naye aliishikilia yake. Hatimaye lilifika hamsini na tisa kwa hamsini na tisa. Umati ulitazama kimya, karibu na aibu. Mechi ilibidi isitishwe tena. Mwanga, tena.

On Thursday, after over ten hours on the court, John Isner finally broke the serve of his exhausted opponent. The final score in the fifth set was 70-68. The entire match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes. Mahut hit 103 aces and still lost.

Alhamisi, baada ya zaidi ya saa kumi uwanjani, John Isner hatimaye aliivunja huduma ya mpinzani wake aliyechoka. Bao la mwisho la seti ya tano lilikuwa sabini kwa sitini na nane. Mechi nzima ilidumu saa kumi na moja na dakika tano. Mahut alipiga huduma zisizorudishwa mia moja na tatu lakini bado alishindwa.

When it was over, neither player could speak well to the cameras. Both were given small medals to mark what had happened. The court itself got a small plaque added to it. Years later, it is still the longest tennis match ever played, and most people in tennis believe it will never be beaten.

Ilipomalizika, wachezaji wote wawili hawakuweza kuongea vizuri mbele ya kamera. Wote wawili walipewa medali ndogo kukumbuka lililotokea. Uwanja wenyewe ulipata bamba dogo lililowekwa juu yake. Miaka baadaye, bado ndiyo mechi ndefu zaidi ya tenisi kuwahi kuchezwa, na wengi katika ulimwengu wa tenisi wanaamini haitawahi kuvunjwa.