That’s us for here, though, so thanks for your company and what a match we had bestowed upon us. If we see nothing better in the next two weeks we’ll still have done well – but we know we will. Peace.
You might’ve been thinking we’re leaving you bereft for the evening dig … nah. Click here, where Bryan Armen Graham will chill with you through the next bit.
Righto, before we knock this on the heed, updates: Moutet has just levelled at 1-1 against Korda (16); Fernandez (23) and Potapova are 4-4 in the third; Sherif and Pliskova are 5-5 in the third; Duckworth has just levelled at 1-1 against Cobolli (31); and that’ll do.
He felt he was gone at 0-4 and felt sorry for himself, but he didn’t want to go out with a whimper after such a long match, he could see Khachanov was struggling a bit. He served badly because of his body and now he’s got a headache that needs getting rid of.
He’s had a tough year but he got a bit of luck with Khachanov hurting and told it’s the longest match ever in the competition, he notes that at 4-2 the crowd really started to get going. They sensed he could do it and it didn’t help his opponent, so he’s grateful for that – it felt like the crowd was full of Brits.
What’s mad about Evans winning from 0-4 is that he did it against Khachanov, owner of one of the game’s most vicious serves. But enough from me, here he is:
A struggle for the Demon but he’s through and meets Virtanen next.
I’ve been watching this sport 40 years and that is one of the most incredible matches I’ve ever, ever seen. Evans was beaten at 0-4 0-40 in the fifth, exhausted and gone. Yet somehow, he found something in the deepest recess of his soul and played fantastically thereafter – Khachanov didn’t give this him, he seized it, and after five hours and 35 minutes, the man who’s barely played this year is into round two!
Ach, and a violent, spiteful forehand saves a second match point! Khachanov isn’t giving this up!
Another horrible, beautiful rally, Khachanov coming in to pick up a drop for 15-40.
Are you kidding me?! A forehand winner pulled cross earns Evans 0-15, and he has unleashed some frankly absurd winners in this set … and there’s another! Are we really experiencing this? Evans is two points away … not he is not! he runs down a drop, flips a winner down the line, and DANIEL EVANS HAS THREE MATCH POINTS!
From 30-0 Khachanov gets to 30-40, but Evans sends a brave serve out wide and it’s too good. From there, he closes out beautifully, a hooked forehand winner sealing the deal, leads 5-4 in the fifth, and this is now the longest match in tournament history, above the Edberg – Chang semi in 1992! I cannot overstate how jiggered Evans looked earlier, like he’d not slept in 492 years, but sportsfolk are different to the rest of us and Khachanov will no serve to stay in the match! That is not a misprint!
Khachanov goes long! Evans has miraculously revived from 0-4 0-40 and after looking finished he’s now Mario with a mushroom!
What are we even seeing? Evans is dominating physically now and two monstrous forehands make 0-30; remember he was 0-4 0-40 down. So Khachanov responds with an ace but a forehand approach is long, and Evans has two break-back points! I cannot believe what I’m typing! This is so, so good!
Goodness me! Evans saves break pint with a forehand winner, then sent out a wide to chase a high-bouncer, he spanks a winner down the line and into the corner! This is now the second-longest match in US Open history, five hours and 19 minutes – the athleticism and mentality it takes to do this is so far beyond our comprehension – and when Evans holds, the growing crowd show their appreciation. Great stuff.
Korda takes the first set off Moutet 7-6; De Minaur leads Giron 2-1 3-3; Sorribes Tormo has beaten Noel 6-1 6-3; Tauson has beaten Schmiedlova 1-6 7-6 6-2; and Evans and Khachanov are still charging about the court like you can’t believe, 30-all on the Evans serve. This has been – and still is – a mighty contest, exactly the kind you hope to see at this stage of a tournament while the favourites are winning easily on the show courts.
Surely not! Evans makes 0-30 with the help of a double, then races in for a putaway … and flicks his forehand long! No matter: Evans has dug deep into his soul and found strength from somewhere, quickly making 15-40 before unleashing a murderous forehand cross to snatch back a break! What a match this is, and suddenly Khachanov will be wondering ! He does, though, still lead 4-2 in the fifth.
Evans has so much moxie, coming back from 0-40 to deuce, the third of those points won via ace. He’s soon down advantage but he hangs in there and eventually holds. He’s not quite fully gone.
Straightforward enough for the 2021 champ, though Lajovic did his best; Medvedev meets Marozsan or Medjedovic next, the latter currently up 5-2.
Evans has tired rapidly, and with good reason – he’s barely played in recent times and has done fantastically well to get to this point. But Khachanov consolidates a second time for a 4-0 fifth-set lead, and it’s hard to see how he loses from here.
Going around the courts, Medvedev now leads Lajovic 5-0 in the fourth, which is to say he’s almost home; De Minaur and Giron are on serve at 1-2 in the third, Demon by two sets to one; Fernandez and Potapova are about to start a decider; Pliskova and Sherif just have; Fils is serving for it against Tien, leading 2-1 5-2; and Cobolli leads Duckworth 4-1.
Evans scurries in to retrieve a drop, seems to hurt his toe in the process, and when Khachanov sticks a winner into the now-vacated court, he rests arm on net and head on arm for what seems like ages – he is exhausted. He does then make 30-all but is soon facing a point for a double-break, Khachanov looking to finish him, but cleverly playing in circumspect fashion because he knows Evans will soon force it and does, a backhand dropping long and wide. Khachanov leads 3-0 in the fifth and this feels extremely over.
Yet again, Evans gets into position to break back, but at 15-40 he nets a backhand … then can’t return a brutal serve. And from there, some ninja forehands from khachanov secure the hold; he leads 2-0 in the fifth.
Medvedev breaks Lajovic to lead 2-1 2-0; De Minaur leads Giron 6-3 6-4 5-7 1-1; Moutet and Korda are level at 5-5; Fils leads Tien 2-1 41 and he’s another youngster a very high ceiling; Sorribes Tormo leads Noel 6-1 4-1; and Tauson leads Schmiedlova 1-6 7-6 2-0.
Yeah, Evans looks quizzical; I don’t think he thinks this is an injury, and we’ve seen nothing to suggest he’s wrong. Nor is there any reason to think Khachanov is breaking any rule.
Khachanov takes an official timeout, his left thigh and knee area taking a massage. I wonder if he’s actually hurt, or if he fancies a rub-down will help him between now and the end here.
As he has in six of his last seven service-games, Evans finds himself break point down at 15-40. He saves the first when a return goes into the net, then a booming delivery means the same happens again. Ach, but then two errors and it’s all for nothing, Evans down a break at 1-0 in the fifth and annihilating his racket for its part in the upset. Oh, and Khachanov has some kind of irritation because he calls for the trainer.
Medvedev secures the third set against Lajovic to lead 6-3 3-6 6-3, and I must say I’m a little surprised he lost one because there’s no circumstance in which I can see him losing this match. Otherwise, Fils now leads Tien 6-4 3-6 6-1 1-1′; Van de Zandschulp has nearly sorted Shapovalov, up 6-4 7-5 2-0; Fernandez leads Potapova 6-2 3-4 down a break; Pliskova leads Sherif 6-3 0-3; and Cobolli, who’s going to be a player, leads Duckworth 1-0 with a break.
We were meant to knock this on the heed at 11, but obviously we’ll see this belter of a match out. It’s the longest one Evans has ever played; it’s far from the longest I’ve ever blogged, so yeah, who’s the athlete here eh?
Lovely from Evans, charging after a fine pick-up from Khachanov to make 15-30. He’s already broken back twice in this set but after a bit of corner-to-corner backhand-to-backhand, Khachanov coaxes one down the line for a winner then, when Evans finds a decent return, he nails the same shot when off balance, and this match has the decider it and we deserve. The players will be feeling it; thanks boys!
Evans nets, then down advantage, glides a slice – a shot that’s been so good to him today – into the top of the tape and the ball drops on his side. At 5-4 in the fourth, Khachanov will shortly serve for a decider.
Giron, a decent player and nasty first-round opponent, takes the third set 7-5 to trail De Minaur 2-1; Evans saves those three break points and, as we reach the four-hour mark, he looks strong.
Down 0-30, Khanchanov is in danger of going home, but he reels off four straight and quick points to stay in the hunt. Evans, by the way, is 4-0 in the head-to-head, reflecting the canniness that is again giving his more powerful but less deft opponent trouble. Though, as I type, Evans finds himself down 0-40, having now lost seven in a row…
Thanks Alex and yes indeed, I am well saunad – but didn’t have time for the cold plunge, so excuse any consequent bad mood. Evans leads Khachanov 4-3 in the fourth and looks the stronger man currently; Medvedev leads Lajovic 1-1 3-1; De Minauer leads Giron 6-4 6-4 5-5; and Fernandez leads Potapova 6-2 2-1.
As this mighty duel continues, Daniel Harris is back from his break – and possible sauna – to take over. He’ll guide you through this and all the stuff I cunningly missed. Thanks for reading.
Source: theguardian.com
