Germany’s Daniel Altmaier performs a forehand return to Italy’s Jannik Sinner throughout their males’s singles match on day 5 of the Roland-Garros Open tennis event on the Court Suzanne-Lenglen in Paris on June 1, 2023.| Photo Credit: AFP

Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner missed two match factors earlier than being knocked out of the French Open within the second spherical on Thursday by German Daniel Altmaier after a dramatic five-hour, 26-minute battle — the fifth-longest match in event historical past.

Altmaier, the world quantity 79, twice staved off match factors late within the fourth set earlier than ultimately prevailing 6-7 (0/7), 7-6 (9/7), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 after 5 hours and 26 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

"I just love the game of tennis," stated an emotional Altmaier. "I don't know if you can call it a historical match, but it was one to remember."

The longest-ever match at Roland Garros stays the six hours and 33 minutes it took Fabrice Santoro to beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement in 2004.

Altmaier and Sinner additionally performed a five-set match within the US Open first spherical final yr, when Sinner was the victor.

Altmaier will tackle Grigor Dimitrov for a spot within the second week after edging the longest match of the event up to now.

The 24-year-old twice averted defeat when Sinner was serving for a last-32 place in set 4 earlier than profitable the third tie-break of the match.

Altmaier, who reached the fourth spherical in 2020, broke in sport seven of the decider however then additionally did not serve it out.

He instantly gave himself one other probability, although, and this time crept over the road as he secured a shock win on his fifth match level after an exhilarating last sport wherein he additionally saved three break factors.