Daniel Evans defeated Karen Khachanov 6–7 7–6 7–6 4–6 6–4 in the first round of the US Open on hard court, securing a significant upset against the pre-match favourite. Khachanov, seeded higher and backed at 1.24 odds, entered as the clear favourite, but Evans, a substantial underdog at 4.56, demonstrated resilience across a gruelling five-set encounter. The match remained tightly contested throughout, with three of the opening four sets decided in tiebreaks, reflecting both players' competitive intensity and defensive capabilities. Evans' ability to convert his opportunities in the deciding set proved decisive, allowing him to advance from a position where the odds heavily favoured his opponent. The victory represents a notable scalp for Evans and keeps his Grand Slam campaign alive.