A pair of superfit dads have set a new record for the longest tennis match of all time after playing a marathon game for more than — 38 HOURS.
Determined Martyn Beck, 38, and Paul Miller, 39, played for 38 hours, ten minutes and 34 seconds, smashing the previous record of 36 hours, 36 minutes and 36 seconds.
The men, both from Swindon, Wilts., performed the incredible stunt to raise #7,000 for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Proud Paul, who actually won the match, said: ”It was just will power more than anything else.
”By the end my left leg was very very sore and I didn’t think I could play any more, so I needed to make sure I finished the match as soon as possible.
”Then the first break in play after we broke the record was a huge release – and we decided to keep going.
”It was madness really. We’re very proud. Our legs are very sore, but our families are very proud they’ve given us a lot of support as well.
”I was the winner – there was some friendly competition about who was going to win but I was quite glad.
”We’re very proud. Our legs are very sore, but our families are very proud they’ve given us a lot of support as well.”
They beat the standing record of 37 hours, to beat the record of 36 hours, 36 minutes, and 36 seconds set by Jeroen Wagenaar and Serge Fernando from the Netherlands.
The pair were only allowed a 15-minute break every three hours, which they spent going to the toilet, eating and undergoing physiotherapy.
Paul’s children Georgia, 13, and Ethan, nine, fetched the balls.
Engineer Martyn, a father-of-two, added: ”It was a charity fundraiser with a twist – we decided to break a record so that people would take it seriously.
”At the gym they dreamed up this wonderful idea of 37 hours of tennis. I originally thought it was going to be a relay with different people playing at different times so I signed up, but at the first meeting they told me it was just going to be two.
”I was a bit awestruck, but given the fact that it was a good charity I completely wanted to do it.
”I’m still sore and tired, but I’m just letting it all sink in. I’m very proud of myself, and very, very proud of Paul. He stepped in after my original partner dropped out.
”We’re just waiting for verification of the record.”
