Dubai: Khachanov beats Evans in rematch of longest U.S. Open match in history
Karen Khachanov coasted past Daniel Evans in straight sets on Monday afternoon in Dubai and will face the winner of the match between Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 4 seed, and Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the next round.
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Russian Karen Khachanov advanced to the second round of the Dubai Open by beating wild card Daniel Evans 6-1, 6-3 at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre on Monday.
Khachanov, who was previously 0-5 all time against Evans, earned five service breaks while advancing in one hour and 20 minutes.
It was a rematch of the longest match in U.S. Open history, played last summer in the opening round at Flushing Meadows. Evans trailed 0-4, 15-40 in the fifth only to come back and stun Khachanov 6-7 (8), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 after five hours and 35 minutes.
Finally, the Russian exacted at least some measure of revenge on Monday in Dubai.
“There were some challenges,” Khachanov commented. “I faced some tougher games (in the second set). I was 2-all and break point (down). Those matches are important for me right now, to get as many as possible under my belt to get the form, to get the rhythm.
“I had never beat him before. We always had tough matches, so I was really looking to get this first win.”
Khachanov, ranked No 24, will next play the winner of a match between Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 4 seed, and Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Dubai ATP 500, other first-round results (Aviation Club Tennis Centre, hard, USD 3.237.670, most recent results first):
- Gael Monfils vs. Matteo Berrettini
- Christopher O’Connell vs. Grigor Dimitrov
- Daniil Medvedev vs. Jan-Lennard Struff
- Jiri Lehecka vs. Ugo Humbert
- Quentin Halys vs. Andrey Rublev
- Alexander Bublik vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Roman Safiullin vs. Tallon Griekspoor
- Marin Cilic vs. Alex De Minaur
- Arthur Fils vs. Nuno Borges
- Luca Nardi vs. Marton Fucsovics
- Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs. Zhizhen Zhang
- Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Lorenzo Sonego
- Aziz Dougaz vs. Zizou Bergs:
- Alexei Popyrin beat Hady Habib (WC): 6-2, 6-4
- Roberto Bautista Agut beat Fabian Marozsan: 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
