Follow us on Google Discover Some players are set to finish their seasons in Paris, but for one player, it’s their career that is coming to an end…
On a day packed with entertainment, Carlos Alcaraz was upset by Cameron Norrie on Tuesday at the Paris Masters.
That wasn’t the only headline to come out of the day, however, as one ATP legend retired from tennis after his first-round defeat in doubles.
Partnering the returning Grigor Dimitrov, a home-favorite played the final match of his career in front of his adoring Parisian fans.
Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images
The 43-year-old enjoyed a legendary doubles career and set a record in singles that is likely to stand the test of time.
Nicolas Mahut retires from tennis at the Paris Masters
43-year-old Nicolas Mahut played the final match of his career at the Paris Masters, losing 4-6, 7-5 [4-10] to Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
The French veteran has only played a handful of events this year, and chose to finish his season and career at his home tournament.
Nicolas Mahut’s 2025 record
He played most of his tennis alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert in 2025, with whom he formed a legendary doubles partnership over the last decade.
The pair won their first Grand Slam title together at the US Open in 2015, and added four more major titles to their collection over the next six years.
Nicolas Mahut’s Grand Slam titles
- 2015 US Open – Beat Jamie Murray/John Peers in F
- 2016 Wimbledon – Beat Julien Benneteau/Edouard Roger-Vasselin in F
- 2018 French Open – Beat Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic in F
- 2019 Australian Open – Beat Henri Kontinen/John Peers in F
- 2021 French Open – Beat Alexander Bublik/Andrey Golubev in F
Mahut completed the Career Grand Slam in doubles and ascended to number one in the world.
The Frenchman held onto the top spot for 39 total weeks between June 2016 and April 2017.
Photo by BENJAMIN VODANT/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
He certainly left his mark on the game of doubles, although he will likely be best remembered for the record he set in singles, 15 years ago.
John Isner and Nicolas Mahut’s unbreakable tennis record
At the 2010 Wimbledon championships, Mahut met John Isner in the first round.
The American, ranked 19th in the world, was the favorite going in and looked in good shape to pick up the win, leading Mahut 6-4 on Court 18.
Mahut wasn’t done yet, however, as he fought back to take the second and third sets, 6-3, 7-6 [9-7].
On the brink of elimination, Isner survived in a fourth-set tiebreaker, 7-6 [7-3], as their first-round match went the distance.
With the light fading, play was suspended for the day, ahead of the fifth set.
What followed was the most remarkable fifth set in tennis history…
The pair couldn’t be separated, and they were tied at 59-59 in the final set, when once again, they were told to stop as night fell.
They returned one final time, as Isner secured the win 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68.
Photo by Alastair Grant-Pool/Getty Images
Isner and Mahut set several tennis records that will likely remain untouched during their Wimbledon marathon 15 years ago.
Records set during John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut
- Longest match (11 hours, 5 minutes)
- Longest set (8 hours, 11 minutes)
- Longest play in a match on a single day (7 hours, 4 minutes)
- Most games in a set (138)
- Most games in a match (183)
- Most aces in a match by one player – John Isner (112)
- Most total aces in a match (216)
- Most consecutive service holds in a match (168)
- Most games won by both winning player (92) and losing player (91) in a match
- Most points won in a match – Nicolas Mahut (502)
- Most points in a match (980)
Rules changed after their match, making it almost certain that those records will last forever.
Mahut may not have emerged victorious at SW19 back in 2010, but he certainly made history.