Question: Yesterday's 77 game Wimbledon men's final was the longest (in terms of games) final ever played.  However, it was not the longest Wimbledon match of all time. What was the total game count for the longest match, ever, at Wimbledon?

A: 86

B: 91

C: 109

D: 112

View the answer at the bottom of this page!

At the June El Dorado Hills Community Services District board meeting the Lake Forest Park ballots were counted. Residents needed a simple majority to approve an annual assessment to pay for the maintenance of the park.

The result was 766 yes votes, and 398 no votes.  It passed!  The park is now scheduled to open next summer.

In addition to two brand new tennis courts, the park will include bocce ball, volleyball, picnic tables, nature trails, play areas and a restroom. Though two tennis courts may seem insignificant, consider that just three years ago we had only four public tennis courts in El Dorado Hills. Lake Forest Park brings the count to eight. 

Thanks goes out to the many supporters of this effort who donated time, money, or just helped to spread the word about this wonderful new village park.  Great work!

The Sacramento Capitals, our local World Team Tennis professional team, has begun their short season, which started and ends in July.  Their home match dates are July 3, 5, 10, 13, 18, 21, 22.

Visit their website for more information.  I'll be there.  Hope you will, too!

Question: Yesterday's 77 game Wimbledon men's final was the longest (in terms of games) final ever played.  However, it was not the longest Wimbledon match of all time. What was the total game count for the longest match, ever, at Wimbledon?

A: 86

B: 91

C: 109

D: 112

Correct Answer:

D: 112

1969 - Pancho Gonzales (USA) beat Charlie Pasarell (USA)
Men's Singles First Round

22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9

The longest match ever played at Wimbledon lasted five hours, 12 minutes and included 112 games. It's a record never likely to be beaten because of the introduction of set tie-breaks.

Gonzales, who had won the US Open 20 years earlier, was 41 at the time. In those days players did not sit down at the change of ends, but simply wiped the perspiration away, got a quick drink of water and then continued play. The match would have been even longer had not Gonzales thrown the second set because the umpire refused to suspend play for bad light at the end of the day, despite three requests. The match was finally suspended after the conclusion of the 2nd set.

When they returned for the second day, Gonzales, who had coached Pasarell, was two sets down. But he wrapped up the third set 16-14 when the younger man hit two double faults. By this time the crowd, who had booed Gonzales for his complaints at the end of the first day, got behind him. He cruised through the fourth but again went into overtime in the fifth.

Pasarell squandered seven match points and Gonzales twice managed to escape from 0-40 in the final set. An exhausted Gonzales still managed to win his next two rounds before losing to fellow American Arthur Ashe.