Dan Evans gets ‘another valuable match on the grass’ as he reaches quarter-finals in Nottingham

ATP Tour
Delight for Dan Evans

Dan Evans swept aside Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano to advance to the quarter-finals of the Rothesay Open on a rain-affected day in Nottingham.

The British No 2, who is top seed for the event, won 7-5, 6-0 to set up a last eight meeting with Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler.

Huesler had dispatched fellow Briton Dan Cox, but Ryan Peniston moved into the next round with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) success over Borna Gojo of Croatia.

“It was a good match. Thomas played very well in the first set. I got ahead early in the second and took advantage,” Evans said.

“It’s another valuable match on the grass. It’s a short season – we need to get as many matches as we can to get out there [ready] for Wimbledon.”

He added: “He’s a very good grass court player. He’s got the credentials. It’s a funny surface so you can get a lot of surprises which is why I’m especially happy with that win.

“It’s good to play in front of the home crowd as they really appreciate the Brits. We don’t get as much time to play at home, so when we do it makes it more special.”

Heather Watson failed to make the most of a bright start as she fell to a 7-5, 6-2 defeat against Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the women’s event.

Watson was a break up in the first set and missed the chance to convert a set point before the world number 55 went on to wrap up a comfortable victory.

There was also disappointment for home wild card Jodie Burrage, who put up a credible performance in a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) to Chinese fourth seed Shuai Zhang.

Harriet Dart clawed back the second set against Italian third seed Camila Giorgi, with their match poised at 5-7, 6-4 when play was suspended for the day.

Dan Evans Thomas Fabbiano

Latest