Daniel Evans beats Karen Khachanov in longest match in US Open history | ATP Tour

US Open

Evans beats Khachanov in longest match in US Open history

Match lasts five hours, 35 minutes

August 27, 2024

Daniel Evans defeated Karen Khachanov in the longest match in US Open history on Tuesday in New York. The Briton rallied from 0-4 in the deciding set to eliminate the 23rd seed 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 in five hours and 35 minutes.

The previous record was held by Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang, whose 1992 semi-final lasted five hours and 26 minutes. Edberg won the match 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-4. 

For a moment, it seemed the clash would not make history. Khachanov surged to a 4-0 lead in the fifth set and earned four break points on Evans’ serve, but was unable to convert.

The Court 6 crowd, raucous throughout, urged Evans back into the match and roared with delight when he finished off the match with a final forehand, which Khachanov missed into the net. There was barely room to stand with so many fans surrounding the court when the historic encounter concluded.

All five sets lasted more than an hour. The third set was the longest at 72 minutes. 

Khachanov hit 79 winners to Evans’ 53, but it was not enough. The victor converted eight of his 18 break points compared to eight of 23 for Khachanov. Evans won 201 total points to Khachanov’s 191 and now leads the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series 5-0.

Entering the tournament Evans owned a 4-17 tour-level record this season and had not defeated a Top 100 opponent in the PIF ATP Rankings since March in Miami, where he beat then-World No. 53 Lorenzo Sonego.

Notably, the 34-year-old partnered Andy Murray in men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics, the final event of Murray’s career. The pair reached the third round before losing to Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.

Longest Matches In US Open History