Record breakers eclipse Federer and Venus

It takes something special to outshine Roger Federer and Venus Williams at Wimbledon, but Nicolas Mahut and John Isner did just that as they played out the longest tennis match in history.

The epic encounter between 23rd seed Isner of the United States and French qualifier Mahut had gone past the nine-hour mark as their final set was suspended at 59-all as the light began to fade on Court 18.

Tennis fans packed out the 782-capacity show court, with people lining the roof of the Wimbledon broadcasting centre several deep and fans outside peering through gaps to catch a glimpse of the epic match.

The previous record of six hours and 33 minutes was set at the 2004 French Open, when Fabrice Santoro beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 16-14.

"It is reasonable to say that it is the longest official tennis match in history," International Tennis Federation spokesman Nick Imison told AFP, adding that it was certainly the longest in the Open Era records.

"There are not any records to suggest otherwise."

The record number of games in match - previously 112 in singles and 122 set in a doubles match - was also shattered, as was the figure for the most aces served by one player in a match since records began.

The encounter put the exploits of six-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer and five-times winner Venus Williams comfortably in the shade.

Federer edged into the third round with a 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) win over Serbian qualifier Ilija Bozoljac.

Federer needed to reassert his authority at the All England Club after he was forced to come back from two sets down and break to save the match in his first-round clash win over Colombian Alejandro Falla.

But the Swiss did just enough to see off the unheralded Bozoljac, ranked 152nd in the world, and the air of invincibility that usually surrounds the world number two was absent.

Last year's beaten finalists Williams and Andy Roddick both made it through to the third round.

Fifth seed Roddick came back from a set down to beat France's Michael Llodra in four sets, while there was no such trouble for his fellow American, who beat Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets.

Williams, who has won nine Wimbledon trophies in all, cruised through the first set 6-0 but was broken in the second, despite taking it 6-4.

"She really played well, it wasn't easy out there. I didn't make a lot of errors and that always helps. I was glad to come through," said Williams, the world number two.

Three-time Wimbledon finalist Roddick was making his first appearance on Centre Court since his epic 16-14 last set defeat to Federer in last year's final.

The American number one beat Llodra 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7/2).

"That was as tough of a second round as there is in this tournament right now," Roddick said.

"He was playing flawless tennis. He played an almost perfect first set.

"It took some of my best stuff to get through that. I thought I played really well. I think I had to."

Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic beat Taylor Dent of the United States 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 6-4.

Australia's 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt had an easy passage through the second round, as did his former fiancee Kim Clijsters and her Belgian compatriot and fellow comeback girl Justine Henin.

Hewitt won the first two sets 6-4 against Evgeny Korolev of Kazakhstan, who had needed treatment on a back injury and pulled out at 3-0 down in the third.

"Today didn't take a whole heap out of me," Hewitt said.

"Moving forward, if you can keep putting yourself in a position where you feel good in the second week, it makes life a lot easier."