By Tony Fairbairn
- Dan Evans def Karen Khachanov [23] 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4
- Evans v Mariano Navone | H2H: First Meeting
NEW YORK, USA – Dan Evans placed himself into the US Open history books after defeating Karen Khachanov in five hours and 35 minutes and will now face Mariano Navone in the second round of the US Open.
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Dan Evans def Karen Khachanov [23] 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4
Dan Evans is into the second round of the US Open after winning the longest match in US Open history with a five hour and 35 minute win over Karen Khachanov. The Brit came back from 4-0 and four break points down in the deciding set to claim a sensational victory. Both players served efficiently to begin the match with Evans having a couple of half-chances early on to break serve.
Despite losing his previous four meetings, Khachanov was confident and proactive in the early stages as he found his range and tested Evans’ resilience early on. The Brit passed the first test and as the set progressed immediately rose the occasion by producing some sublime all-court tennis. The Brit produced the first of many comebacks as he came back from 40-0 down to break Khachanov and take a 6-5 lead.
Evans made a positive start to serving out the opening set as he had three set points, storming to a 40-0 lead. However a missed forehand smash at the net proved costly and Khachanov came back to break Evans with a passing shot winner as the opening set was decided on a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Evans wasted two more set points at 6-4 and was made to pay for them as Khachanov only needed one to seal the opening set tiebreak 8-6.
In the second Evans made a much more authoritative start on serve but once again on return failed to convert his break point opportunities early on. Slamming his racket helped Evans ease off any tension or frustrations as he persisted with tested Khachanov’s mental fortitude. The 23rd seed did pass any stern tests on his serve though and it was Khachanov who struck first, breaking Evans in the ninth game to have the opportunity to serve for a two set lead.
As Khachanov would find out the hard way, count Evans out at your peril as the Brit took advantage of a poor service game from Khachanov to break back and level the set at 5-5. Despite the break back Evans continued to look visibly frustrated as some crucial points were not going his way as the second set would be decided by a tiebreak. It was a tiebreak that was dominated by Evans as the Brit’s aggressive tennis earned him a well deserved set and this match was level at one set all.
The third set saw both players start well but it was Evans who had all the momentum as he produced a stunning ten minute spell in order to take a 3-1 lead. Tensions were rising as the crowd was heavily invested in this match and Khachanov wanted to hear more from the crowd as he broke back at 3-3 with a sensational backhand down-the-line winner. Both players showed great nerve on serve as the set reached its conclusion but Evans in particular was clutch in big points as he saved a set point to force another tiebreak.
This tiebreak was a combination of the first two and it saw Evans dominate on return as the first three points on Khachanov’s serve went to Evans. The Brit remained composed and a serve and volley sealed the third set tiebreak 7-4 as Evans found himself two sets to one up in this close contest.
Fatigue was starting to play its part at the start of the fourth set with both players breaking early on although it was Khachanov who led by two breaks to one, taking a 3-1 lead. Once again Evans refused to give in as he survived an attempt from Khachanov to go a double break ahead and Evans would go on to break back for 3-3.
After going 4-3 down, Khachanov obliterated his racket and that seemed to take some of the pressure off his shoulders as he seized control of the fourth set by breaking for a 5-4 lead. After four hours and 35 minutes Khachanov was as composed as he was at the start of the match as he held serve to take this match into a fifth set.
The fifth set was chaotic and dramatic with a script like no other as Evans seemed down and out, seemingly out of energy and out of ideas. Khachanov stormed to a double break lead at 4-0 and had four break point opportunities to take a 5-0 lead. A consolation game from Evans seemingly had everyone thinking that it was no more than a consolation.
Little did the Court Six crowd know that the spirit of Andy Murray possessed Evans at the change of ends as with every point belief installed into Evans’ game. A 4-1 deficit became 4-3 and before Evans knew it he was level at 4-4 after a wayward Khachanov backhand went out. The momentum was firmly with Evans and an exquisite forehand passing shot winner saw Evans one game away from a historic victory.
History was already made as this was the longest match in history and Evans ensured more history was made as he secured a sixth consecutive game and with it the biggest victory of Evans’ career. A place in the second round in one of the most ludicrous matches the US Open has ever produced.
Dan Evans v Mariano Navone H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Dan Evans v Mariano Navone | H2H: First Meeting |
| US Open 2024 | New York, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $140,000 |
| Fourth on Court Five (21:30 BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Evans will now aim to reach the third round of the US Open for a third consecutive year when he takes on Mariano Navone.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)
| H2H: | Dan Evans (WR 184) | Mariano Navone (WR 36) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R4 (2021) | R3 (2021) |
| 1st Serve % | 54 | 67 |
| Service Games Won % | 74.9 | 68 |
| Break Points Saved % | 61.7 | 55.1 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 49 | 54.5 |
| Break Points Converted % | 30.2 | 43.9 |
Evans need to continue his aggression and efficiency on serve against Navone, who has been clinical on return this season.
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Playing Styles and Prediction
Navone had an incredible start to the season but the Argentinian’s form has dipped recently with only three victories in his last 13 matches. The good news is that Navone is still ranked at 36 in the world and will believe that a good stretch of form before the end of the season will see him climb further up the rankings.
Evans will aim to be aggressive on serve as he will need to waste as little time as possible given his first round marathon. Meanwhile Navone will aim to extend the rallies as he will look to maintain consistency on return. If Evans is fit then he should win this match but that is a massive doubt given how long his match with Khachanov was.
Prediction: Evans in four sets.
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