French Open | Altmaier rallies from the brink to dump Sinner in 5-hour 26-minute epic

Jannik Sinner was knocked out of the French Open by Daniel Altmaier after a dramatic 5-hour 26-minute battle

Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner missed two match points before being knocked out of the French Open in the second round on Thursday by German Daniel Altmaier after a dramatic five-hour, 26-minute battle — the fifth-longest match in tournament history.

Altmaier, the world number 79, twice staved off match points late in the fourth set before eventually prevailing 6-7 (0/7), 7-6 (9/7), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 after five hours and 26 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

"I just love the game of tennis," said 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 remains the six hours and 33 minutes it took Fabrice Santoro to beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement in 2004.

Altmaier and Sinner also played a five-set match in the US Open first round last year, when Sinner was the victor.

Altmaier will take on Grigor Dimitrov for a spot in the second week after edging the longest match of the tournament so far.

The 24-year-old twice averted defeat when Sinner was serving for a last-32 place in set four before winning the third tie-break of the match.