Proud Daniel Evans outlasts Karen Khachanov in longest US Open match
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Daniel Evans of Britain returns against Karen Khachanov of Russia during their long US Open first-round battle.
PHOTO: AFP
NEW YORK – Fight until the end, that was Daniel Evans’ mindset as he rallied from 4-0 down in the final set to beat Karen Khachanov in the longest match in US Open history on Aug 28, a 5hr 35min epic battle.
In front of a lively crowd, the Briton beat the 1.98m 23rd seed from Russia 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4.
“It was a long, long battle,” the 34-year-old said. “I thought I played pretty well for the majority of the match. Obviously I was struggling physically, but so was he.
“It was sort of who could last the longest in the end.”
The previous longest US Open match was Stefan Edberg’s victory over Michael Chang in the 1992 semi-finals, which lasted 5hr 26min with the Swede winning 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-4.
The contest did not look headed for a record when Khachanov grabbed a 4-0 lead in the final set. The 28-year-old then had four break points on Evans’ serve but could not convert.
Evans then rallied, urged on by the crowd packed into the stands and along the concrete walkways along the court in the shadow of the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“(I) just tried to scrape little by little,” he said. “Each point I was obviously really struggling with my legs. On serve I was fine on return, so that gave me a bit of hope.
“When you’re a kid, you’re just told to fight until the end. I mean, that’s sort of Rule 1. I’ve done that pretty consistently for my career. It sort of paid off a bit today.”
Each set lasted more than an hour, the third stretching to 72 minutes.
But it was not Evans’ first epic comeback of 2024. He and Andy Murray saved seven match points in two straight rounds before they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics.
“I’m immensely proud that I came through the match,” added the Briton. “I thought I could (win), but it’s easier said than done. You can always think it, but you’ve got to go out there and do it.”
He also said he would give himself a break after the marathon, which left him “hurting all over”.
“I don’t think I’ve played five hours in a day ever in two sessions, never mind in one,” he said with a laugh.
“I was actually thinking that on the court. I’ve never practised two hours. It’s normally an hour and a half. We’ll see (what to expect for his second-round match against Argentina’s Mariano Navone).
“I’ll obviously be in a bit of discomfort for the next few hours, 12 hours, 48 hours, whatever.
“I pride myself on being pretty fit, so I should hopefully be OK.”
There was no immediate comment from Khachanov after the tough battle, understandably so. AFP
