A stunning comeback from Englishman Dave Evans sent Australian Alexei Popyrin packing from Flushing Meadows.
In a nonaccomplishment that whitethorn haunt the Australian for immoderate time, Popyrin led 2 sets to emotion but couldn't combat disconnected a resurgent Evans, who prevailed successful the deciding tiebreak to scope the last-16 of the US Open for the archetypal clip with a 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(1) victory.
In a 4 hr classic, Popyrin looked ascendant successful the opening 2 sets, showing overmuch of the signifier that saw him dispatch of the injured Grigor Dimitrov successful the past round.
The Aussie was looking to beforehand to the 4th circular of a Grand Slam tourney for the archetypal clip successful his vocation and besides aiming to people consecutive wins against a seeded hostile astatine a Grand Slam.
Instead it was the archetypal clip Popyrin went down aft starring by 2 sets, leaving the Aussie despondent connected the broadside of the court.
Overall, Popyrin deed 77 winners and served 18 aces but couldn't support his unforced mistake number down aboriginal successful the match.
31-year-old Evans didn't deed arsenic galore winners arsenic the Aussie, with 48, but played a cleaner crippled arsenic the lucifer wore on, committing conscionable 8 unforced errors crossed the 5 sets. In the last acceptable helium deed conscionable 1 unforced error.
It is the 4th five-set triumph of Evans' vocation – and the 2nd clip the seasoned has recovered from a two-set deficit.
Popyrin was the past remaining Australian successful the US Open 2021 men's singles draw.
For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!