Day three: Evans beats 23rd seed in five sets; Boulter & Draper sail through while Raducanu bows out

Dan Evans, Katie Boulter and Jack Draper have all booked their place in the second round of the US Open – all in slightly contrasting styles, while Emma Raducanu's run ended in first round defeat.

Evans staged an epic final set comeback to beat 23^rd seed Karen Khachanov 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 in five hours and 34 minutes – the longest match in US Open history.

Earlier in the day, Boulter came through a tough battle against qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Meanwhile 25^th seed Draper beat China’s Zhizhen Zhang after the world No.41 retired trailing 6-3, 6-0, 4-0.

Meanwhile 2021 US Open champion Raducanu lost out in a tough contest to Sofia Kenin 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.

Evans produced one of the best performances of his career against Khachanov to secure a second round match against world No.36 Mariano Navone.

The 34-year-old bounced back from losing two set points in the opening set tie-break, by winning back-to-back breakers in the second and third to take the lead.

Khachanov’s physicality seemed to have got the better of Evans as the Russian broke at 4-4 in the fourth and then went on to take a commanding 4-0 lead in the decider, with four break points on Evans’ serve.

It only took one hold from the Brit for the nerves to kick in for Khachanov and as the scoreboard ticked over in his favour, Evans seemed to build in energy.

As Khachanov’s unforced error count rose 14 in the set, Evans reeled off six straight games to seal an unbelievable victory.

Boulter lost a nervy opening set in which she held a 2-0 lead and had two break points at 3-3, but responded well at the start of the second.

The 31^st seed broke for a 3-0 lead to wipe away any past disappointment and saved a break point on an important game at 4-2 before seeing out the set.

Both players had their chances in the decider, but it was Boulter who proved the more clinical. She saved six break points on her serve, while two key double faults from the world No.107 helped the Brit secure the double break she needed to see out the win.

Boulter moves on to play either Jessica Bouzas Maneiro or Petra Martic in the second round.

Draper made an impressive start to the match, dropping just two points on serve and breaking at 3-2 and then again at 5-3 to clinch the opening set.

However, it was clear that Zhang was struggling with an injury to his knee and called for treatment twice.

The British No.1 kept his focus and saw off 12 consecutive games before Zhang eventually called an end to the match.

Draper’s next opponent will be either Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina.

iIn a battle between former Grand Slam champions, it was Raducanu who found herself with her back against the wall early on, as Kenin forced the Brit to save two break points in the first game of the match.

From then on, Kenin ripped through the opening set - winning six consecutive games to take the advantage in front of a packed out Grandstand crowd at Flushing Meadows.

The former US Open champion made a statement response by breaking early in the second before the American bit straight back to draw back level.

Raducanu visibly grew into the match, channelling some of the tennis that led her to the fourth round at Wimbledon just over a month ago. The British No.2 went on to break the 2020 Australian Open champion twice more before sealing the set in style with the blistering forehand winner.

Into the decider and  the American opted for a more attacking game, with her efforts being rewarded in the fifth game as Raducanu gifted the break with a costly double fault.

From there, there was no way back for the Briton as Kenin closed out victory with a classy hold to love to put an end to Raducanu's hopes of a first win in New York since her historic run three years ago.