Tennis

No more marathons: Davis Cup votes for 5th-set tiebreaker next year

Published Sep. 25, 2015 3:26 p.m. ET

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The Davis Cup will use fifth-set tiebreakers beginning next year.

The International Tennis Federation approved the change for the men's team competition Friday at its annual meeting in the Chilean capital.

Earlier this year, Leonardo Mayer of Argentina and Joao Souza of Brazil were involved in the longest Davis Cup singles match on record. The match lasted 6 hours, 42 minutes, forcing the best-of-five series to be extended to a fourth day.

The fifth set alone lasted 2 hours, 30 minutes before Mayer clinched the match 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 5-7, 5-7, 15-13.

The Davis Cup has had tiebreakers in all sets except for the fifth since 1989.

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