In the record-breaking US Open contest, Evans emerges victorious.
Daniel Evans and Karen Khachanov had a marathon match that went on for over five and a half hours at the US Open. The vibe on Court 6 was lively and festive, reminiscent of a folk festival. In the end, Evans emerged victorious, securing a significant victory in the longest match in recent US Open history. After a grueling 5 hours and 35 minutes, the 34-year-old Brit clinched the win in a thrilling 6:7 (6:8), 7:6 (7:2), 7:6 (7:4), 4:6, 6:4 decision against his Russian opponent.
"I've got a bloomin' headache now, gotta sort that out fast," Evans grumbled with a wincing grin. "I'm bloody proud. They always tell you to keep fighting til the end, you know that's rule number one. I've stuck to that throughout my career and guess what, it paid off today."
The previous record for the longest US Open match since tie-breaks were introduced in 1970 belonged to Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang. The Swede managed to best his American rival in the 1992 semi-finals, also in five sets, wrapping up the match in 5 hours and 26 minutes.
Folk Festival Atmosphere on Court 6
The court was buzzing with the energy of a festival as the match between Evans and Khachanov progressed. Evans found himself trailing 0:4 in the deciding set and feeling the strain in his legs. However, the support from the packed stands and the crowd's enthusiastic cheers gave him the strength to fight back and win the last six games consecutively.
"I've never played for five hours in a single day," Evans shared. "I don't even train for two hours at a stretch. It's usually one and a half hours." As for his wish, he confessed, "I really don't want to go through this again, honestly not a chance."
The grueling match proved that Daniel Evans' love for sports is unmatched, as he demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the duration. The electrifying atmosphere on Court 6 continued to motivate Evans, reminding him of the thrill and excitement that comes with competitive sports.
