Dan Evans sails through to the US Open third round with sensational victory over Alexander Zverev
Three British players to compete in the last 32 of a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon in 1999
THREE is the magic number for Dan Evans and for British tennis.
Evans’ brilliant 6-4 6-4 5-7 6-2 win over No 27 seed Alexander Zverev put him in the third round of the US Open for the second time, three years after his previous run.
And it gave Britain three men in the last 32 of a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon in 1999, when Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Danny Sapsford flew the flag.
It hasn't happened at the US Open since 1968, the year tennis went fully professional.
Evans himself is reaping the rewards of being a proper pro after years of off-court antics and lack of application held him back.
As recently as May 2015, Evans was the world No 772.
Now he is knocking on the door of the top 50 as he and fellow Brit Kyle Edmund raise their game to keep Andy Murray company late in the first week in New York.
And Evans described the victory as the best of his career.
, he said: "It was probably the best win of my career.
"The situation and circumstances, late at night, difficult mentally. To come back in the fourth and get on top was good."
Back in 2013, Evans had disposed of rising star Bernard Tomic in the second round.
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And he spiked another young gun in Zverev.
The 19-year-old German is tipped by some as a future Grand Slam winner.
But Evans postponed that day until at least 2017 with a fantastic performance which strengthened the feeling that he is at last making the most of his own potential.
The likeable Brummie didn’t allow losing the third set to derail him, breaking Zverev twice in the fourth and then serving it out to love at just before midnight local time.