Dan Evans’ US Open rival breaks silence after suffering huge collapse in loss to Brit | Tennis | Sport
Karen Khachanov has spoken out after losing a record-breaking match to Dan Evans in the first round of the US Open.
The 23rd seed suffered a huge collapse in the final set, losing the last six games in a row as the Brit came through 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4.
At five hours and 35 minutes, it became the longest match in US Open history.
Evans, by his own admission, has barely won a match this season. But he came into his opening match in Flushing Meadows with a 4-0 record against Khachanov.
He took a two-set-to-one lead but the experienced Russian forced a decider and raced into a 4-0 lead. Khachanov also had four break points to go 5-0 up and serve for a bagel. But Evans suddenly kicked into life and won six games in a row to upset the world No. 22.
Khachanov has now addressed the match for the first time publicly, sharing a lengthy post on social media. “Yesterday I had one of the longest toughest and emotional matches in my career. I woke up today with the feeling that I was beaten up with a bat,” he started.
By the time Evans and Khachanov broke the record for the previous longest match in US Open history – a five hour and 26 minute semi-final between Michael Chang and Stefan Edberg – it was clear that both men were cooked. And the 6’6 Russian explained just how much he was struggling.
Khachanov added: “I tried not to show it at all but after 5 and a half hours in the fifth set I had cramps all over my body. I am not trying to say that i lost because of this. No. It’s not an excuse. We had the same conditions with my opponent and it was a mental fight in the end.”
The 28-year-old then pleaded for his followers to go easy on him after suffering mentally off the back of the heartbreaking defeat. “I am extremely devastated and disappointed that I could not get the victory in the end. But I want to stress out that after matches like this, painful lossses like this it is extremely difficult to cope with this mentally. Professional sport is often associated with mental strength but not many people tell you about this mental fatigue, burnout, self criticism and a feeling of desperation,” he continued.
“Please, I am asking you to be respectful. Don’t strike a man when he is down. I may be down but definitely not out! I am sure I can get over this, do the right work and get back on court better than before. I will be grateful for all the support that I get. Let’s be kind to one another. Less hate and more love and the world will become a better place.”
Khachanov wasn’t the only one feeling the effects of their five-hour and 35-minute battle. Straight after the match, Evans joked that he wanted to go to bed and later admitted he had been in pain.
The Brit, who has fallen to No. 184 in the world, said: “It was just a crazy, crazy match. 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.”
