Beaten by Daniel Evans after battling for 5 hours and 35 minutes in the longest match in US Open history, where he led 4–0, two points at 5–0, in the final set, Karen Khachanov published a touching message on Instagram and revealing the “brutality” of this sport for the body… and the head.
“On Tuesday I played one of the longest, toughest and most emotional matches of my career. I woke up feeling like I had been beaten with a bat. I tried not to show it, but after 5 and a half hours in the fifth set I had cramps all over my body. I’m not trying to say that I lost because of that. That’s not an excuse. We had the same conditions with my opponent and it was a mental fight in the end. I’m extremely devastated and disappointed that I couldn’t get the win in the end. But I want to emphasize that after matches like this, painful defeats like this, it’s extremely difficult to get through it mentally. Professional sport is often associated with mental toughness, but few people tell you about this mental fatigue, exhaustion, self-criticism and a sense of hopelessness.wrote on the 22nde world before warning its potential detractors.
Please, I ask you to be respectful. Don’t hit a man when he’s down. I may be down, but I’m definitely not out! I’m sure I can get through this, do the right job, and come back stronger than before. I’ll be grateful for all the support I get. Let’s be kind to each other. Less hate and more love and the world will be a better place.”
Published on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 4:15 p.m.
