Match Highlights
Outer-court tennis during the early rounds of the four majors is always a thrill, and this year’s U.S. Open has been no exception. On Tuesday, history was made on Court 6, right under the shadow of the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. Dan Evans and Karen Khachanov battled it out in what has officially become the longest match in U.S. Open history. This clash, which began with little fanfare, quickly transformed into a memorable marathon, ending with Evans claiming victory 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 after an astonishing five hours and 35 minutes.
To put this in perspective, the previous record was held by the legendary 1992 semifinal between Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang, which lasted a mere five hours and 26 minutes. This match, however, launched past that benchmark and set a new standard for endurance on the court.
The Unbelievable Comeback
Tuesday’s showdown also featured one of the most dramatic fifth-set comebacks ever witnessed. At one point, Evans trailed 4-0 in the final set and faced the daunting prospect of falling behind 5-0 on four separate occasions. He fought off a total of four break points while down 15-40 in the fifth game, turning the tide in a way that left spectators on the edge of their seats.
It seemed like Evans found a second wind—or maybe it was his ninth and tenth wind at this point! With Khachanov feeling the burn, Evans broke twice in a row to level the score at 4-4. He then saved another break point in the ninth game and held serve for a crucial 5-4 lead.
The Final Moments
From that point on, it was all Evans. Despite Khachanov showcasing skill with two incredible points to stave off match points at 0-40 and 15-40, the British veteran converted his third match point with a stunning play that forced his opponent into a backhand error.
“It was sort of who could last the longest in the end,” Evans remarked in his post-match press conference. “I just kept fighting, really. I tried to scrape little by little. You’re taught to fight until the end as a kid, and that’s what I’ve done my entire career. Today, it sort of paid off.”
Evans looked at the clock and felt the heat of the moment. “It was nuts. Just a crazy, crazy match. I’ll remember this one forever,” he added, and honestly, how could he not?
Conclusion
This epic encounter will go down in history not just for its duration but for the sheer determination displayed by both players. Evans’s incredible comeback from 4-0 down in the fifth set will surely be talked about for years to come.
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Yours truly, Mia