Evans misses out on famous US Open win

Solihull’s Dan Evans came within a point of the best win of his career before falling to a five set defeat against Stan Wawrinka in the US Open third round.

Evans had opened up a 2-1 advantage against the world number three and had a match point in the fourth set tie-break but Wawrinka was able to save it before going on to level the match at 2-2.

In the deciding set Wawrinka seized the initiative racing into a 4-0 lead against a visibly tiring Evans and was eventually able to close out the set 6-2 and progress after just over four hours on court.

Evans had already beaten 27th seed Alexander Zverev in the second round and started well against former French Open champion Wawrinka winning the first set 6-4.

The second set was evenly contested before a lengthy break to allow Wawrinka to receive heavy strapping on his ankle. But after that delay and at 4-3 up the man from Switzerland took the next two games to win the set 6-3.

Evans then won the third set on a tie-break and was tantalisingly close to a remarkable victory before Wawrinka began his comeback to seal a place in the last sixteen.

Having been ranked 772nd in the world last year, Evans’ run at Flushing Meadows will seem him climb to a best ever ranking of around 50.