Skip to main content

Arnaboldi wins epic qualifying match at French Open

  • Author:
  • Publish date:

PARIS (AP) Andrea Arnaboldi needed two days and spent four hours and 26 minutes on court to win the qualifying match featuring the most number of games in the history of the French Open on Thursday.

The Italian player defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France 6-4, 3-6, 27-25 to reach the final qualifying round, setting a new record for the most number of games played in a qualifier at Roland Garros.

Tournament organizers said the previous record was set in 1996 when Daniel Nestor beat Thierry Guardiola 4-6, 6-3, 22-20.

The match was suspended on Wednesday night at 15-15 in the third set, with the players having played less than an hour and a half on Court No. 7.

The tournament, which doesn't use a tie break in the deciding set, starts Sunday.