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Dan Evans fought after two sets to defeat Australia’s Alexei Popyrin and reach the fourth round of the US Open on Friday with thrilling style.
The Briton No.1, who retired from his men’s doubles match a day before his third round draw due to concerns about a groin problem, appeared to be feeling the effects of the problem and was looking down on him. down after losing the first two sets against the world. No 73.
But Evans showed a formidable wit to start a monumental retaliation before securing a 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-1) victory to tie his best Grand Slam race, which he performed during the four of the Australian Open. years ago.
Back the Briton Dan Evans is the first ???????? to reach Round 4 at the #USOpen in men’s singles since @andy_murray and Kyle Edmund in 2016. pic.twitter.com/mpiuPVDuLB
The 31-year-old, who arrived in New York after four losses in his last five games since Wimbledon after missing the Olympics because he contracted coronavirus, admitted he suffered from a slow recovery process.
He appeared to be aiming for a seventh loss in the last 32 of a Slam, but sank and fought for a sensational victory after four hours and three minutes.
Evans, who had only returned once before to win a match from such a position, played a superb tie-break in the final set and crouched down with his head in his hands when Popyrin committed a double fault on the match point.
In a field interview broadcast by Amazon Prime, Evans said, “I didn’t think I really did a bad job in the first two sets.
“It was very obvious how he played me. I think it has gone down a bit. I still had chances in the first two. In the fifth, he started to come back that way, serving much better. I played a good tie- It was tough. I can’t wait to relax.
“Coming back from Wimbledon where I was poor in the third round, it was difficult. I was really focusing on the third round here once I got there, it was to put in a good performance today. I could have lost this game quite easily. I had a great effort despite everything, so I’m proud of what I did. “
He will now meet second seed Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Pablo Andujar 6-0 6-4 6-3 for his third consecutive victory in less than two hours.
The Russian kept the non-seeded Spaniard to five points in the first set, committing just three unforced errors in a superb streak of play in his attempt for a first major title two years after his final loss to Rafael Nadal.
“The main positive is to win in three sets because Pablo fought well,” said Medvedev, who claimed his fourth Masters 1000 title last month in Toronto.
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