The US Open has seen plenty of longest matches in its history but only a few have crossed the five-hour mark. These are the kind of matches that test far more than a player’s tennis. Staying focused for that long, dealing with the physical strain and still finding a way to win in the fifth set takes something extra. Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang’s 1992 semifinal lasted 5 hours and 26 minutes, a record that looked increasingly difficult to break. For many years, this match stood above the rest when it came to the longest match in US Open history. 

The record of this match finally fell in 2024, when Daniel Evans and Karen Khachanov spent nine more minutes on court than Edberg and Chang had managed 32 years earlier. That leaves three matches sitting at the top of the US Open’s men’s singles list, and all three have their own story. One ended after 2:50 am while another decided a place in the final. The latest record came after Evans somehow turned around a 0-4 deficit in the fifth set.

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3 Longest Matches in US Open History

1. Daniel Evans vs Karen Khachanov – 5 hours, 35 minutes

Daniel Evans defeated 23rd ranked Karen Khachanov 6-7(8), 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 in the first round of US Open 2024. The British came back from 0-4 down in the deciding set and won the final six games to complete the longest match ever played at the US Open. Every set lasted more than an hour with the third set going for 72 minutes. These two players made heavy baseline exchanges and faced repeated break-point pressure under the late-summer heat on Court 6. Evans later admitted he lost track of which set they were in during the fourth and was focused on staying on court as long as possible once trailing 0-4. The final point itself was a 22-shot rally that sealed both the victory and the record. The win also extended the perfect first-round record for Evans at the tournament.

2. Stefan Edberg vs Michael Chang – 5 hours, 26 minutes

Stefan Edberg beat Michael Chang in a marathon 1992 semifinal winning 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-4. The match featured 404 points and held the tournament record for 32 years before Evans and Khachanov finally broke it. This match saw 23 service breaks and forced the Swedish player to come from a break down in the fifth set for the third consecutive match that time.  Edberg saved multiple break points in the decider and did well to take the lead, and advanced to the final where he defeated Pete Sampras to win his second US Open title and the last major of his career.

3. Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner – 5 hours, 15 minutes

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 in their 2022 quarterfinal. The match finished at 2:50 a.m and set a record for the latest finish at the US Open. This remains the third-longest match in tournament history. Both young players smashed brilliant winners with Alcaraz saving a match point while trailing 5-4 in the fourth set before forcing a decider and eventually closing it out. The match was a spectacular and thrilling one as Carlos managed to hold his nerve and win the match after 5 long hours.