In an unprecedented turn of events at the US Open, tennis player Dan Evans emerges triumphant.
Daniel Evans and Karen Khachanov battled it out for an astounding 5 hours and 35 minutes on Court 6 during the US Open. The vibe in the court was electrifying, reminiscent of a lively folk festival. In the end, the British champion triumphantly celebrated a monumental victory, his victory being the longest match in modern US Open history. He clinched the match with a triumphant 6:7 (6:8), 7:6 (7:2), 7:6 (7:4), 4:6, 6:4 scoreline against the Russian opponent.
"I've got a rather bad headache now, needs to disappear swiftly," Evans remarked with a wincing grin. "I'm very proud of myself. As a kid, they always tell you to never give up. That's rule number one. I've held onto that throughout my career. Today, it proved to be fruitful."
Evans' victory surpassed the previous US Open record for the longest match since tie-breaks were introduced in 1970, which was held by Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang. The Swede had triumphed over his American foe in the 1992 semi-final in a grueling 5 hours and 26 minutes, also in five sets.
A Folk Festival-like Atmosphere on Court 6
The atmosphere on Court 6 was akin to a vibrant folk festival, as the unending match between Evans and Khachanov stretched on. With the underdog trailing 0:4 in the final set and feeling the burn in his legs, odds seemed to be against him. Yet, with the crowd's unwavering support in the packed stands, Evans turned the tables and won the remaining six games in succession.
"I've never played for five hours non-stop in a day," Evans shared. "I typically never train for double the time. Usually, it's an hour and a half." With a tired smile, he admitted his one wish: "I genuinely hope not to have to do this again. That's for sure."
"Despite the physical exhaustion, the triumph in such a prolonged Sports match has given me an unparalleled sense of achievement.""The Folk Festival-like atmosphere during the US Open, with its enthusiastic crowd, certainly added to the thrill of this historic Sports event."
