British tennis star Dan Evans secured perhaps the biggest win of his life with an epic five-set triumph over 23rd seed Karen Khachanov at the US Open.
Evans, who has had a dismal 2024, fought back from trailing 4-0 (15-40) in the deciding set to claim an unlikely 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 victory on Court 6.
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“I just tried to keep fighting. At 4-0 I thought I was out, I felt a bit sorry for myself,” Evans said.
“I was trying to pull myself together and I didn’t want to come out of a Grand Slam whining after so much fighting and realize he was struggling.
“I just tried to play one game at a time… I just have a terrible headache and I need to get rid of it!”
“It was an amazing match and I just want to go to bed!” Evans added.
The victory is a record, with the match lasting a grueling five hours and 35 minutes — the longest in US Open history.
The previous record was Stefan Edberg’s match with Michael Chang in 1992, which lasted five hours and 26 minutes.
“It was amazing. At 4-2 I really started to get going,” Evans added.
“The crowd kind of felt it. I don’t know how many Brits are here, but it felt like the whole place wanted me to win. I don’t think that’s ever happened before.
“It really helped because he felt them and then I actually played really well, great last point and here we are.”
Evans’ next challenge is a second-round clash with Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
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Tuesday was a good day for the Brits, with British No. 1 Jack Draper safely advancing to the second round with a win over Zhang Zhizhen.
Meanwhile, British No. 1 Katie Boulter advanced to the second round with a three-set victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open women’s singles title, begins her campaign on Tuesday night with a clash against American Sofia Kenin.