Anybody going to watch John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in their opening round match this week will need to be prepared for a possible repeat of last year's marathon match which holds the record for longest match in tennis history. The two players met in the same round of last year's tournament, Isner eventually prevailing 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 70-69 in an 11-hour battle of wills. The American Isner eventually finished the tie with 112 aces to Frenchman Mahut's 103, destroying Ivo Karlovic's previous record of 78.

The game was forced into a second day with the final set level at 59-59, the two players returning in the morning to play another 19 games before Isner eventually broke his opponent's serve, going on to hold for the win. The tie not only claimed the record for longest ever match but also records for longest set ever, most games in a set and a match, most aces in a match and Isner's most aces in a match. Those placing a Wimbledon free bet shouldn't expect the record to be touched.

Isner was understandably fatigued after the mammoth match and was beaten in the second round by Thiemo de Bakker, following his victory against Mahut. Reaching the second round was the American's best finish at Wimbledon but the big hitter will be looking on improving that record this year. Coming up against Mehut again will certainly attract the audiences but both players will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year. Playing an 11 hour match isn't the best way to get a gruelling Wimbledon campaign under way as those following the Wimbledon tennis betting will no doubt know.

Isner is in much better form than Mehut finds himself in at the moment. While both players have struggled to find consistency to their games, Isner finds himself inside the top-50 while the Frenchman is way down in 94th in the world rankings. The American pushed Rafa Nadal all the way in last month's French Open first round, the eventual champion finally managing to go through after claiming the win 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-4.

The powerful American will be hoping to get this year's Wimbledon campaign under way in a much more simple fashion, putting himself in good condition to challenge in the latter rounds.