WIMBLEDON, England -- The longest-match rematch is coming to Wimbledon: John Isner and Nicolas Mahut will play each other in the first round.

Last year, the pair played the longest match in tennis history, with Isner winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 in a first-round match at the All England Club that lasted 11 hours, 5 minutes stretched over three days. A gasp followed the announcement at Friday's draw, followed by laughter.

"It's going to be pretty nuts," Isner said Friday. "I couldn't believe it. I joked with him earlier in the week, last week, and said, 'Watch us play each other.' And he said, 'No, there's no way. That's not even funny.' "

The two players have become good friends since their historic encounter a year ago. They were to practice against each other Saturday, but canceled those plans as soon as they found out the rematch was on.

"We might do dinner (afterward)," Isner said. "We're really good friends now, but obviously we both want to win. But we're going to enjoy it and laugh at it at the same time."