Dan Evans on a roll as first semi-final of 2023 awaits
Dan Evans secured his first semi-final of 2023 with a 6-3 7-5 quarter-final victory over Italian qualifier Andrea Vavassori at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech on Friday.
Evans will go on to face Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain in the last four.
Carballes Baena needed to battle through a three-setter against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
Evans snapped a losing streak that stretched back to the Australian Open in his first outing and was delighted to continue seeing an improvement in his game.
He controlled the match well from the baseline and took his chances to quickly wrap up a victory.
“I played a bit better today than yesterday and that’s important,” Evans said in his on-court interview.
“It’s pleasing as well to get another win. He’s been playing very well. He’d come through qualifying. He has a very, very good game for every surface, but very different for this surface.
“So it was a difficult match and I had to focus really hard and I’m happy I played very well and won.”
In other action in Marrakech, unfancied Frenchman Alexandre Muller upset Lorenzo Musetti to book his place in the last four.
Australian Christopher O’Connell will face Pavel Kotov for the final place in the Grand Prix Hassan II semi-finals.
Evans, currently the British No 2, won his only career title back in 2021 during the Australian Open swing but has been among the more consistent performers on the tour.
He had been relieved to snap his losing streak in his last outing.
“It was a tough match. I played well,” Evans said. “I haven’t won for a few tournaments, so it was important to win again.
“I enjoyed the match and it was good fun. I really like Marrakech, that is why I came back.”
Evans is the only top British male player in action this week with Jack Draper recovering from injuries while Cameron Norrie and Andy Murray have favoured a rest week ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters.
The world No 30 will take on a qualifier in his opening match in Monte Carlo but will first need to wrap up his participation in Morroco.
Evans is now a very strong candidate for the Grand Prix Hassan II as the top-ranked player left in the competition.
The time for his semi-final match on Saturday 8 April has yet to be fixed.
