US Open: Dan Evans reflects on ‘tough day’ as he battles illness and hip problems in loss to Alex de Minaur

Dan Evans set a US Open report with the longest victory in event historical past within the first spherical in opposition to Karen Khachanov however that outstanding win took its toll when the Brit bowed out on Saturday night following a 3 units to 1 defeat in opposition to Australia’s Alex de Minaur, 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 6-0.

Evans had been feeling evident discomfort all through the match, together with taking a medical timeout, however refused to retire harm.

The match was a decent tussle early on, with Evans solely narrowly dropping the primary set and dominating the tiebreaker to take the second, however from that time on he was unable to actually compete.

After the match, Evans was clearly disillusioned.

He admitted as a lot in his post-match interview: “A little bit of me is wounded in fact. I fancied my probabilities in opposition to Demon [De Minaur], but it surely wasn’t to be.

“The draw was good, and that’s what I’ve waited for, for a very long time, to see one thing like that, however I wasn’t ok. I’ll sleep properly for most likely the following 4 or 5 days and I’ll be over that fairly fast.

“It’s been a tremendous week. I got here to America with no expectations and lots of doubt, and I left with lots of readability that I can nonetheless do it on the larger stage, not fairly the highest stage, however the larger stage.”

Persevering with with the press, Evans admitted that he had harboured issues about his bodily situation earlier than he even stepped onto the court docket.

He stated: “I knew I used to be in for a protracted night. To beat Alex it’s a must to be bodily in fine condition. I felt positive however my hip simply seized up and have become very problematic at first of the third set. It was stiff going into the match. It was a tricky day, I used to be a bit sick as properly earlier than the match after which, clearly my hip, not loads went proper and that is Grand Slam tennis, is not it? You need to get better.”

Evans refused guilty his damage, underlining his level that his opponent had earned his victory.

He stated: “He was the higher participant. It is not all the time about tennis, your physique must be ready and kudos to him. He performed a terrific match.”

The 34-year-old veteran then defined that his bodily struggles originated in his epic victory over Khachanov.

He stated: “It is all related to the primary day. My groin and my hip’s been sore ever since. It is going to be positive after just a few days’ relaxation. Just a few beers will assist it as properly.”

Evans continued, explaining that he had by no means thought-about retiring from the match, whilst he struggled to compete.

He stated: “No. It was fairly bemusing that they began to boo me when the irony was, I used to be staying on the market for them, and naturally, I respect Alex. “

Evans defined his perspective, stressing that Grand Slam tennis stays the top of the game and ought to be handled as such.

He stated: “I do not assume you need to be pulling out of a Grand Slam. You end the match. That is simply my method and that is how I used to be introduced up: you keep until the tip and also you shake palms. And he really stated, ‘Thanks for staying on the market, respect’.”

Finally, Evans stated that his US Open expertise had proven that he’s removed from a spent power.

He stated: “This week’s introduced lots of good issues. It’s not that I fell out of affection with tennis, but it surely’s simply given me a glimpse: I am nonetheless fairly good, and that is a pleasant feeling.”

His victorious opponent was equally magnanimous when he confronted the press after the match.

He stated: “I believe the very first thing I ought to present is lots of respect to Dan. He’s the last word competitor. He might have simply pulled out, the physique was clearly not feeling properly however he stayed on the market and tried his finest so I actually appreciated it.”

De Minaur will face Jordan Thompson in an all-Australian fourth spherical match subsequent up, guaranteeing at the least one Australian man will play within the fifth spherical of the event for the primary time since Nick Kyrgios in 2022. Curiously sufficient, Kyrgios misplaced that quarter-final to Khachanov.

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