David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Popyrin is blasting these serves. Evans has got to hang around long enough for Popyrin to go off the boil because if the Australian carries on playing like this, he is pretty unstoppable.

Boom. An ace for Evans makes it 40-0 and a bullet forehand into the corner makes it a hold to love for the Briton. Now, can he trouble Popyrin...

Dan Evans is unhappy with something - and he's letting the umpire know about it.

He needs to give the court his full attention now though as he serves to stay in the second set. 30-0 is a good start.

15-0. 30-0. 40-0. Game.

Popyrin is a man on a mission and breezes through his service game to move one game away from a two-set lead.

There's no room for error for Evans now or this second set will quickly disappear. A volley gets him started on his way to 40-0... Wait WHAT.

That is sensational. Running back towards the baseline to keep a lob alive, Popyrin pulls out a brilliant 'tweener' through his legs which catches Evans cold.

The Briton can only bundle his shot into the net, but he recovers on the next point to hold.

Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Popyrin definitely has a clear game plan. He had a shocker of a clay-court season and then ended his relationship with his long-term coach and brought on a very tactical coach who has not neccessarily been a head coach before. Apparently they are discussing pre-match tactics for two hours before he gets out there.

David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Popyrin has just served four bazookas to get his way out of trouble and, frankly, he's in charge. He is going to take some reeling in.

But Popyrin comes back.

From 15-40 behind the 22-year-old rattles through some impressive serving to take four successive points and hold for a 4-1 lead.

David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

You get the feeling that Evans needs some good news, quickly, here.

A chance for an immediate response.

Popyrin double faults to hand Evans two break back points.

Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

That's the first time I've seen Dan look a little bit slow off the serve. It looked like he was struggling to push off that landing leg. Popyrin has taken time away from him and it has been very effective.

And now the British number one is really up against it.

Popyrin forces another error from Evans, who now finds himself a set and a break down.

More pressure for Dan Evans on serve.

Alexei Popyrin has break point.

Image source, Getty Images

Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Dan Evans knows that, at his best, he should win this match. But you can't always predict what will happen when you come out and if things aren't clicking. Dan will 100% know this is a huge opportunity for him.

BBC Radio 5 Live

By the way, you can listen to live radio commentary of the US Open on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra and at the top of this page right now, if you fancy.

It's fairly straightforward from there for Popyrin, who produces an ace to hold.

Alexei Popyrin take a bow. Dan Evans manages to return a body shot but the Australian, on the spin, lashes a cross-court forehand winner for 30-30.

Evans sticks to his task and forces deuce.

Evans holds, and it feels like a rather important one to end a five-game losing streak.

These are tricky moments for Dan Evans here but he survives a break point.

Popyrin then takes advantage of a second serve to bring the Briton back to deuce, though...

Popyrin miscues for 40-0 but the next two shots, both forehand winners, are sublime.

And just when it looked like it was going to be a comfortable service game for Evans, Popyrin takes him to deuce.