Britain’s Dan Evans had a stunning win on Tuesday, beating Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the longest US Open match of the professional era. It had all the makings of a thriller and when it was over, Britain’s Greg Evans triumphed over the Frenchman in the protracted five hours and 35 minutes match 7-6 (6), 6-7(2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 to see off Fabrice Santoro ranked 184th in the world and once a British number one. This match went on to break the record that had been set earlier by five hours and 26 minutes by Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in the 1992 semi-finals.
This was an intense match that was competed for on Court 6 of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and, surprisingly, the crowd of people that flocked to the area to watch the match was very many, especially given that it was hot. In the conclusive rubber, 22-year-old Khachanov favored to have the match within his grasp when he served 4-0 in the decisive rubber. However, Evans had an amazing fight back, saved four break points in the fifth game, and then came through the imposed pressure to break Khachanov in the sixth game.
The spectators became louder with every passing game, especially when, in the seventh game, Evans saved the break point and then went on to break Khachanov’s serve in the eighth. Khachanov was clearly annoyed yet, he tried to fight and was successful in saving two match points in the last service game. However Evans to everyone’s amazement managed to clinch the match by sending a forehand cross to the unreachable zone thus collapsing over the net & wearily after that monstrous clash.
With a win over Lucassen Evan goes to the next round to face Mariano Navone of Argentina.