Dan Evans fought through the pain barrier to win the longest match in US Open history and then admitted: “I don’t really want to do that again!”
The British No.5 defied cramp and world No.22 Karen Khachanov to win 6-7 7-6 7-6 4-6 6-4 in five hours and 35 minutes.
Exhausted Evans had been 0-4 down in the final set before winning the final six games in the steamy heat of New York. Match point – the 392nd point of the epic contest – was a fittingly long 22-shot rally which ended with the Russian dumping his backhand into the net. He was also dead on his feet.
“It was just a crazy, crazy match,” said Evans. “It’s one I’ll remember obviously forever. It was sort of who could last the longest in the end. I was hurting all over really.
“It’s the longest I’ve ever been on a court. I don’t think I’ve played that long, five hours, in a day ever in two sessions, never mind in one!. I was actually thinking that on the court. I’ve never practised for two hours, two hours. It’s normally an hour and a half.
“In the fourth set I had to check the set to see what set we were in. I wasn’t entirely sure what set we were in.
“I was trying to stay out there as long as possible at love-four and just see where I could get myself. But, yeah, I don’t really want to do that again. That’s for sure.”
The previous record here was five hours and 26 minutes in the 1992 semi-final between Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang. The longest match in history is John Isner’s 2010 Wimbledon win over Nicolas Mahut in 11 hours and five minutes – almost as long as Evans’ rotten recent singles form.
He had lost his previous 10 Tour-level matches stretching back to Miami in March – and had dropped down to world No.184 after playing the Olympics with Andy Murray instead of defending his title in Washington. “I’ve had a lot of first rounds this year,” Evans said. “It’s nice to win a match. I’m immensely proud that I came through the match.”
The Brummie, 34, does have form for unlikely comebacks this summer after saving seven match points with Murray while winning two equally unlikely doubles matches in Paris.
“Yes, another pretty good comeback I guess,” he smiled. “That’s three in a matter of months. Yeah, nuts, yeah.”
Evans will face Argentine world No.36 Mariano Navone in the second round on Thursday. “I’ll obviously be in a bit of discomfort for the next few hours, 12 hours, 48 hours, whatever,” he said. “I pride myself on being pretty fit, so I should hopefully be okay.”
