The spectators of Court Suzanne-Lenglen did not expect such a scenario. After 3h51 of play on Monday, the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated the Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo (7-6 (3), 3-6, 5-7). This marathon enters the Roland-Garros record books as the third longest match in the history of the tournament in the women's draw. Top 14th seed in this edition, Haddad Maia qualified for his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. She had never gone beyond the 2nd round in Paris.
"I would like to thank those who came to support me and attend this match, she says at the microphone of Fabrice Santoro after this match. The emotions were for both of us. A big match, against a great player, in a big tournament... It's more than tennis. I'm very happy that I didn't crack and pushed my limits."
This match was close to the record duration at Roland-Garros, which belongs since 1995 to Virginie Buisson and Noëlle Van Lottum. The first won in 4:07 in the first round (6-7, 7-5, 6-2). Second place went to Australia's Kerry Melville and American Pam Teeguarden in the first round in 1972 (9-7, 4-6, 16-14), before the introduction of the decisive game (3:55).
The record duration for a women's match in Grand Slam belongs to the Italian Francesca Schiavone and the Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the 8th final at the Australian Open (6-4, 1-6, 16-14), in 4h44.