Buenos Aires, Argentina (SportsNetwork.com) - After a record 6 hour, 42 minute match between Leonardo Mayer and Joao Souza, the decisive fifth rubber between Argentina and Brazil was suspended after one set due to a lack of light.
Mayer outlasted Souza in an epic five-set rubber to pull host Argentina into a 2-2 tie with Brazil in their best-of-five Davis Cup battle. The war of attrition set a new Davis Cup record.
The previous Davis Cup record for longest match occurred back in 1982, when John McEnroe outlasted fellow legend Mats Wilander in 6 hours, 32 minutes in a United States-Sweden quarterfinal matchup St. Louis.
In a battle of Friday's opening singles winners on Sunday, Mayer survived Souza 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 5-7, 15-13 on the red clay at Tecnopolis to force a fifth and deciding match between Argentine Federico Delbonis and Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci. Delbonis was inserted in place of Carlos Berlocq.
Mayer broke Souza in the 28th game of the fifth set to finally come out on top.
After Delbonis won the first set 6-3, it was announced that play would be halted until Monday.
The winner in Buenos Aires will move on to face Serbia in July's quarterfinals.
Argentina is 5-2 all-time versus Brazil in Davis Cup play.
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