Dan Evans leaped above four of the biggest names in tennis history as he created US Open history in a dramatic first round match.

Evans came back from a seemingly hopeless position against Russian Karen Khachanov as he was 4-0 and 40-15 down in the fifth set and somehow managed to find a way to win.

The 34-year-old, whose season has been disrupted by injury, poor form and prioritising the Olympics, launched the ultimate comeback, winning six games in a row to claim an amazing 6-7 (6) 7-6 (2) 7-6 (4) 4-6 6-4 victory.

It took a mammoth five hours 35 minutes, which broke a 32-year-old record at Flushing Meadows set when Stefan Edberg beat Michael Chang in five hours and 26 minutes in 1992.

How Evans pulls up after this marathon remains to be seen but he will cherish his piece of history, which was also his first grand slam victory of 2024.

He could easily have won in straight sets had he taken his opportunities, missing seven set points in an opener he eventually lost.

Evans regrouped, though, and in a topsy-turvy battle, won the next two sets, both on tiebreaks.

The fourth set appeared to prove pivotal and when Khachanov broke at 4-4 he sent it a decider.

Evans was visibly flagging physically at this point and his mood worsened after being broken in the opening game as he smashed his racket on the floor.

The Russian sensed blood and looked to have moved into an unassailable position when he led 4-0 in the decider.

But, despite being out on his feet and barely able to walk in between points, Evans somehow reeled off six successive games to earn a record-breaking victory.

US Open News

Court of public opinion has voted on Jannik Sinner’s failed drug tests – and the verdict is unanimous

John McEnroe reveals why ‘favourite’ Carlos Alcaraz might not win the US Open

“I haven’t played a bunch of tennis this year, I just tried to keep fighting,” said Evans

“At 4-0 I thought I was out – I felt a little sorry for myself and was trying to get myself going. I didn’t want to go out of another slam with not much fight and I could see he was struggling a bit. I’ve got a bad headache now so I’ve got to get rid of that.

“I’m really happy, it was a hell of a match. It was amazing, at 4-2 (the crowd) really started going. I don’t know how many British people are here, but it seemed like everybody wanted me to win and I don’t think that’s ever happened before.”

This match is now etched into US Open folklore as the longest in the history of this great tournament, Evans’ match leaping above four icons of the game with this win.

Prior to this match, the longest match at the US Open saw Stefan Edberg beat Michael Chang in an epic 1992 semi-final.

Edberg finally beat his American rival 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-4 after five hours and 26 minutes, with that record as the longest match lasting for 32 years.

The second-longest match was played two years ago, as Carlos Alcaraz pulled off an epic win against Jannik Sinner on his way to lifting the title.

Evans will not be thinking he can follow in Alcaraz’s footsteps after his epic win as he looked shattered after the match.

Yet when Evans finishes his career, this match is certain to be remembered as one of his finest wins.