Dan Evans delivered an extraordinary performance in a five-set marathon against 23rd seed Karen Khachanov, setting a new US Open record for the longest match at the Grand Slam. The match unfolded over five hours and 35 minutes, showcasing Evans’ remarkable endurance and resilience.
Evans found himself down 4-0 in the final set but mounted a stunning comeback, winning six games in a row to clinch the match. The final score was 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4, highlighting Evans’ tenacity and ability to turn the match around under intense pressure.
The match surpasses the previous US Open record of five hours and 26 minutes, set by Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in 1992. However, the longest match in Grand Slam history remains the 11-hour and 5-minute epic between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut from 2010.
Dan Evans’ grueling victory was part of a successful day for British tennis, as British No. 1s Katie Boulter and Jack Draper also advanced to the second round.
Boulter demonstrated impressive resilience by coming from a set down to overcome Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Meanwhile, Draper had a more straightforward match, spending just over an hour on court to defeat Zhizhen Zhang.
Dan Evans could have secured victory in straight sets if he had converted his earlier chances, missing seven set points in the first set, which he ultimately lost.However, Evans regrouped and, in a fluctuating contest, won the following two sets, both in tie-breaks.
The fourth set proved crucial in Dan Evans’ match. He twice came back from a break down, but Karen Khachanov broke serve for a third time at 4-4, forcing a decisive fifth set.
Evans appeared physically exhausted and his frustration grew after being broken in the opening game of the final set, leading him to smash his racket on the ground. Falling behind 4-0, it seemed his chances were slipping away as Khachanov earned four more break points on Evans’ serve.
Despite his fatigue and struggling to move between points, Evans fought back tenaciously. He saved all four break points, eventually securing six consecutive games to achieve a record-breaking victory.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played for five hours in a single day, let alone in one match,” Dan Evans reflected. “I was actually thinking about it on the court; I’ve never even practiced for two hours straight—usually it’s just an hour and a half.”
Evans continued, “At 4-0 down, I was focused on staying out there as long as possible and seeing where I could get myself. It was the longest I’ve ever spent on a court, and during the fourth set, I had to check which set we were in because I lost track. I definitely don’t want to go through that again.”
