August 27th 2024.
Dan Evans, the British tennis sensation, had quite the comeback at the US Open. In what is now considered the longest match in the tournament's history, Evans battled his way to a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 victory over 23rd-seed Karen Khachanov. It was a remarkable feat, especially considering Evans was down 4-0 in the fifth and final set. But with sheer determination and grit, the world No.184 managed to turn the tide in his favor, in an epic five-hour and 35-minute marathon on Court 6.
It was a great day for British players at Flushing Meadows, as Jack Draper also advanced to the second round in the men's singles, while Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart secured wins in the women's singles. Evans, who had previously played doubles with Andy Murray at the Olympics, spoke to Sky Sports after his stunning win over Russia's Khachanov. He admitted that he hadn't played much tennis this year, but his fighting spirit ultimately prevailed.
"At 4-0, I thought I was out. I felt a little sorry for myself, but then I got myself going and didn't want to go out without a fight and a whimper," Evans shared. "I could see that Khachanov was struggling a bit, so I just tried to take it one game at a time. I have a bad headache now, but it was all worth it. This has been a tough year for me, but I knew I had put in the work, even though I was a bit hurt."
Reflecting on the intense match, Evans acknowledged that he got a bit lucky at the end and almost blew his lead. "But I'm really happy with the win. It was a hell of a match, and I just want to go to bed now," he added with a laugh. He also mentioned the amazing support from the crowd, who seemed to be cheering him on every step of the way. "It was incredible at 4-2, the atmosphere really started to pick up. I don't know how many Brits were there, but it felt like the whole place wanted me to win. I've never experienced anything like that before, and it really helped me to play my best."
Earlier in the day, Boulter also had a successful start to her US Open campaign, defeating qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich in straight sets. She will now face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round. "It's not easy coming out here to play your first round against someone who has been in the top 30. She knows how to play tennis," Boulter shared after her match. "I feel like I came out really well, but she responded quickly in the first set. I tried to reset and play better in the second and third, and I'm proud that I managed to stay in there and bring a good level to the court."
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