He owned a 13-3 record in five-set matches, having won 12 of his last 13.

"It's hard to play a tough five-set match and walk away with nothing," he said.

But for that they should also play on the identical terms: five-set matches instead of three.

Since 1981, he has played eight five-set matches at Wimbledon, winning all of them.

Until this tournament, Sargsian had never played a five-set match.

He could not hold up after playing three five-set matches in a row.

Conditioning becomes a factor in a five-set match as players try to wear one another down.

"The losses taught me how to play five-set matches," said Washington, who has lost only one in the last three years.

It was his sixth victory without a loss in five-set matches at the Open.

James Blake will have to wait until another day to collect the first victory of his career in a five-set match.