Evans Outlasts Khachanov in Epic US Open Marathon
Daniel Evans has etched his name into the US Open record books, claiming victory in the longest match at the tournament since tiebreakers were introduced in 1970. The British player overcame a seemingly insurmountable deficit to defeat Karen Khachanov 6-7 (6), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 on Tuesday, in a gruelling encounter lasting 5 hours and 35 minutes.
Evans found himself trailing 4-0 in the fifth set, but displayed remarkable resilience to win the final six games. The match concluded with a fittingly epic 22-shot rally, with Evans on the defensive for much of the exchange before ultimately forcing a decisive error from Khachanov. The victory shattered the previous record of 5 hours and 26 minutes, set in the 1992 semi-final by Stefan Edberg against Michael Chang.
"I'm immensely proud to have come through this match," said Evans, clearly exhausted but elated. "It's a feeling that outweighs everything else. I've had a lot of first-round exits this year, so it's great to finally get a win under my belt."
Evans, who had previously defeated Khachanov on four occasions, extended his winning streak against the 2022 US Open semi-finalist. The match was a marathon of a different kind, with each set stretching on for a significant duration: 68, 67, 72, 67 and 61 minutes, respectively.
The British player, who notably partnered with Andy Murray at the 2021 Olympics in Murray's final tournament, ended the match with a total points advantage of 201-191. He now faces Mariano Navone of Argentina in the second round.
"I don't think I've ever played a match this long, even in two sessions," said Evans, reflecting on the physical toll. "I was actually thinking about it on court, I've never even practiced for two hours straight. It's normally an hour and a half at most."
Court 6, usually a less frequented venue at the sprawling Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, drew a sizable crowd as the match surpassed the five-hour mark. The stands overflowed despite the sweltering conditions, with fans eager to witness the epic encounter.
According to ESPN BET, Khachanov was as short as -50000 to win when leading 4-0 in the fifth set, while Evans was available at +4000.
"I just tried to keep playing, stay out there as long as possible at 4-love, and see what I could achieve," said Evans, recounting his mindset during the crucial moments. "In the fourth set, I had to check which set we were in, I wasn't entirely sure. But I certainly don't want to do that again, that's for sure."
This article includes contributions from D'Arcy Maine (ESPN), The Associated Press, and Reuters.
