Dan Evans admits soreness after playing longest US Open match in second-round win

Britain’s tennis star Dan Evans has revealed that he is still a bit ‘sore’ after playing the longest match in the history of the US Open. The 34-year-old defeated Karen Khachanov of Russia in the opening round of the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year with a score of 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. That match lasted five hours and 35 minutes.

Evans then went on to win in the second-round contest against Argentina’s Mariano Navone in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Talking after the match, the Birmingham-born star stated that he is still feeling ‘sore’ after playing nearly six hours on matchday one of the mega-event but also highlighted that feeling like that helped in overcoming challenge in the second round where he felt ‘extra pressure’ to win after producing the heroics against Khachanov.

“It was a strange 24, 48 hours,” said Evans. “I don't know why, I felt a bit more extra pressure to win. I didn't really want to win that match and then lose in the next round. It wouldn't feel right. Everyone was congratulating me. It was almost a bit embarrassing. I didn’t want to say: ‘No, I have got another match’. I am proud of it but it meant everything to get through that round. It was important to me. Thanks to my physio. I am a bit sore and it really focused me. I slept a bit in the day today. I have just been really tired since the match the other day. I recovered really well. I’ve been in and out of the ice bath quite a bit, lots of mobility just to get myself going.”

Evans is now set to face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the third-round of the competition on Saturday. The 25-year-old defeated Otto Virtanen in straight sets in the round of 64 with a score of 7-5, 6-1, 7-6.