In a grueling 5-hour and 35-minute showdown, Dan Evans triumphed over Karen Khachanov, breaking the US Open record for longest match, all while wondering which set he was actually in.

Evans not only rewrote the record books by surpassing the previous 5-hour and 26-minute marathon but also showcased incredible resilience, coming back from a 4-0 deficit in the final set to clinch victory despite battling both injuries and a shaky memory of the match order. With post-match fatigue radiating throughout every sore muscle, he humorously declared he has no intention of repeating such an epic endurance test anytime soon.

The previous record for the longest match at the US Open was held by the iconic duo of Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in 1992. Their back-and-forth tussle was a delightful affair lasting 5 hours and 26 minutes. Fortunately—unless you’re a fan of excessive existential dread—such lengths were replicated, and then some, this past weekend on Court 6. Evans looked like he might have aged fifty years in the midst of trying to inch towards victory, channeling the grueling physicality that only comes with a match that feels like it's taken place at the gates of Mordor.

Evans wrested the match from the jaws of defeat with a final score of 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4, a sequence of numbers that seemed less like a tennis score and more like a combination to a Renault dealership's safe. The final set's dramatic comeback from 0-4 would even make a soap opera writer reconsider their plot twists. Evans’ journey wasn’t just about winning; it was also about finding a way to prevail in circumstances that could only be described as a triumph of sheer will, a working concept of athletic craziness, and possibly caffeine consumption.

Exhausted and exhilarated, Evans reflected on his hard-fought victory, saying he was 'immensely proud' after a year marred by injury. Having entered the match with a dismal 4-17 record, his accomplishment was sweet indeed—like finding a twenty-dollar bill in the pocket of pants you forgot you had. While you’d think gaining the upper hand would be smooth sailing from there, it seemed that keeping track of the match itself posed challenges, with Evans admitting, 'I had to check the set to see what set we was in.' Because who needs a scoreboard anyway?

His fellow Brit, Andy Murray, no stranger to the highs and lows of tennis, offered his virtual applause, tweeting 'Goosebumps.' One can only imagine the goosebumps experienced by the viewers, who probably felt each moment of agony as if it were their own. For everyone watching, the match might have felt like it was narrating a dramatic reading of a long-term relationship’s ups and downs—with occasional cries of 'Out!' and 'No way!' drifting into the air as they did.

As if injuries weren’t enough, the conditions on the day were blistering, making this five-and-a-half-hour marathon feel more like a run through the Sahara. Evans continued to battle with fatigue, describing the physical toll by saying he was hurting all over—an understatement reminiscent of an athlete saying they’re a little ‘wet’ after a monsoon. In this regard, both players navigated their issues on the surface while also doing their absolute best to keep the competition from turning into an impromptu soliloquy on the benefits of hydration.

Reflecting on the keys to his unparalleled success, Evans articulated that maintaining the fighting spirit he fostered as a child had been vital. Those early life lessons evidently paid off as he expertly maneuvered through this decidedly adult challenge. Yet, it begs the question—what kind of fighting spirit does one summon when you forget how many sets you’ve played? Perhaps a wrestling match in a deep philosophical crisis might just be the trick.

In the end, while Evans conquered Khachanov, he likely also conquered something much deeper—the philosophical curiosity about what truly counts as ‘enough’ tennis. One might suspect his love for the game might be put to the ultimate test as he publicly declared, 'I don't really want to do that again, that's for sure.' It seems likely Evans might be eyeing matches under the four-hour mark for the foreseeable future.

In this age of spectacular highs and punishing lows, it's safe to say Dan Evans has not only outlasted his opponent but perhaps also the patience of tennis fans everywhere. While the record books will remember this epic contest, Evans’ reluctance to relive such marathon matches will be the more lasting impact—as every true athlete learns when pushing the boundaries of endurance, the clock isn't the only thing that counts.