Daniel Evans made US Open historical past on Tuesday and did so in spectacular style – regardless of getting into the event and not using a Grand Slam win this 12 months and, on the age of 34, seeing his rating drop all the way in which to world No. 184.
However in her first match in Flushing, the veteran Briton did not simply upset No. 23 Karen Khachanov.
He did so after trailing 4-love within the fifth and closing set within the longest match in Open historical past for the reason that tiebreak was launched in 1970.
“I used to be actually sore throughout,” Evans mentioned after his thrilling 6-7 (6), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 win on Court docket 6 that prolonged his report 5 hours and 35 minutes and features a whole of 392 factors. “I do not suppose I’ve ever performed 5 hours — that lengthy — a day in two classes, by no means thoughts one. I used to be really pondering [about] that on the courtroom. …
“I am extraordinarily proud that I used to be capable of get via the sport. I believe that is the prevailing feeling greater than something. I had a number of first rounds this 12 months. It is good to win a sport. … You all the time have doubts when you do not win. That is regular in each sphere of life. Should you do not do nicely, you’ve got doubts. It is no completely different in tennis.”
The earlier longest US Open match was 5 hours and 26 minutes.
It was a 1992 semi-final the place Stefan Edberg ousted Michael Chang.
It was a grueling match for each gamers. At one level within the fourth set, Evans checked the scoreboard to see the place they had been within the match.
“I wasn’t fairly positive what set we had been in,” he mentioned.
It has been a tricky 12 months for Evans. He was flawless within the first three majors of the season and went 4-17 this 12 months in singles matches. Accidents had prevented him.
Tuesday was completely different. On Tuesday, he responded to adversity, none extra so than within the closing set when he discovered himself in an enormous gap. He rallied to win the subsequent six video games in opposition to Khachanov, a semi-finalist on the 2022 US Open. Evans earned a second-round assembly with unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone on Thursday.
“I believe whenever you’re a child, they only inform you to struggle till the top,” mentioned Evans, who reached the fourth spherical of the 2021 US Open and the third spherical final 12 months. “I imply, that is sort of rule one. I’ve executed it fairly constantly in my profession. It sort of paid off a little bit bit right now.”
of Russia in 5 units throughout their first spherical match on Day 2 of 2024
US Open on August 27, 2024 Getty Photos
It’s unsure how a lot he can have left on Thursday. Evans won’t apply Wednesday. He’ll use the day to relaxation as an alternative. Then he’ll look to maneuver ahead with some newfound confidence. He virtually definitely will not need to be on the courtroom as he was on Tuesday for his subsequent sport.
“I actually do not wish to try this once more,” Evans joked. “That is for positive.”
