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Dan Evans does not want to be known only for being a US Open record breaker after he backed up his marathon victory with more success.
Only 48 hours after creating history in New York by winning the tournament’s longest-ever match in a gruelling five hours and 33 minutes, Evans made much lighter work of Mariano Navone.
The Argentinian, ranked 36 in the world, was dispatched in straight sets and whatever physical effects Evans was feeling he did not show them as he claimed a 6-4 6-3 6-3 success.
Evans said it was important he backed up Tuesday’s win over Karen Khachanov.
“It’s been different, but it was important to win today,” he said. “The record and stuff’s obviously great but I’m here to win.
“It’s not just to get that record and then roll over, I wanted to make sure I continued it. And it wasn’t just one match.”
The 34-year-old admitted the last 48 hours have been difficult, particularly on Wednesday when he started feeling worse as the day went on.
The record and stuff's obviously great, but I'm here to win as well.— Dan Evans
“It’s been difficult. I just did a lot of recovery,” he said. “It’s been difficult. I’m very sore, hopefully, a bit of a quicker match and another good day tomorrow, recovering, hopefully I can catch up to being a bit fresher.
“But how I played made it a bit easier, mentally.
“I’m not a great sleeper after matches, but I was so tired, I slept eight hours, and I never sleep like that.
“I was a bit worried. Yesterday I started to get worse through the day, like started to get a bit sore, more sore through through the day. I wasn’t sure how I’d wake up this morning.”
