Dan Evans news: What next for the final Brit in the Australian Open draw?
Dan Evans carries British hopes into the third round of the Australian Open as he bids to match his best run at a grand slam.
The 24th seed had an unexpected day off on Thursday after opponent Arthur Rinderknech withdrew, and then watched all his compatriots fall around him.
Now Evans will take on ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime with a place in the last-16 at stake.
Auger-Aliassime has had a fine start to the season, leading Canada to the ATP Cup title, but has spent eight hours on court so far in Melbourne in gruelling victories over Emil Ruusuvuori and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina while Evans defeated David Goffin in round one inside two hours
Their only previous meeting came at Melbourne Park 12 months ago, when Evans defeated Auger-Aliassime to win his first ATP Tour title.
The Canadian, 21, was very good very young but his progress had stalled a little before he hooked up with Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni last spring.
Appearances in the Wimbledon quarter-finals and US Open semi-finals followed and Auger-Aliassime told ausopen.com: “Him being there is a huge source of motivation and more than anything it’s confidence and trust.
“He brought confidence that reaching the semi-final of the grand slam and challenging the best players in the world is something that is doable.”
Evans has twice reached the fourth round of a slam before, in Melbourne five years ago and at the US Open last summer, and will look to continue his excellent start to the season having won six matches and lost only one.
Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu are heading home, though, after both fell in the second round.
Raducanu’s wild ride at the grand slams continued as she attempted to chop and slice her way through a bizarre clash with Danka Kovinic because of a painful blister on her racket hand.
Kovinic eventually found a way to win but Raducanu was able to take pride from what on paper was a disappointing defeat after showing once again that competitive nous is one of her big strengths.The 19-year-old is also set to rise from her current ranking of 18, potentially into the top 15.
“I did discover elements of my game I didn’t know I had before, and I can use that going forward,” said Raducanu.
“I just know that I’ve got that fight in me. Even if I have got one shot, I know that I can pull myself out of deep situations.
“Because I’m still young, I feel like I can learn a backhand, I can learn some tactics, but it’s quite hard to learn or teach someone that fight and grittiness to hang in there when things are pretty much all against you. So I’m quite proud of that.”
Raducanu expects the blister to heal quickly and, once back home, she will focus on completing the block of training and fitness work that was cut short by her Covid diagnosis last month.
Although this was Raducanu’s earliest grand slam exit, Eurosport pundit Mats Wilander saw it as another good step on her tennis journey.
“In Wimbledon she reached the fourth round, at the US Open she won, and in the Australian Open she won a great first round against a former grand slam champion in Sloane Stephens,” said Wilander.
“Then she played a fantastic match (against Kovinic). She is on her way. She won the grand slam – that’s over. Now we start being a professional tennis player. That is where she is at.”
While Raducanu can look forward with optimism, Murray cut an extremely disconsolate figure following his straight-sets loss to qualifier Taro Daniel – his worst ever grand slam defeat by ranking.
The Scot again was left contemplating his future, with progress on the match court still frustratingly slow.
It may have been primarily disappointment talking, and the fact the 34-year-old has committed to playing with a new racket – a big change for any player – indicates he still believes better days can lie ahead.
“It’s not an excuse for losing today but I have to factor that into maybe my performances for a couple of months,” said Murray. “Everyone I have spoken to around testing and changing rackets, it does take a bit of time to gain confidence in it, so I have to bear that in mind a little bit.”
Latest
-
Tennis News
Elena Rybakina addresses Roger Federer trait she shares and makes confession about Miami run
“I think it’s just the character, but also if sometimes you can notice that I’m also negative.”
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz candidly admits how Grigor Dimitrov made him feel in Miami masterclass
“I was talking to my team saying that I don’t know what I have to do. I don’t know his weakness.”
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz forced to accept brutal reality as he slumps to shock Miami Open defeat
Carlos Alcaraz could have no complaints as he was forced to accept the brutal reality that he was beaten by a better player.
-
Tennis News
Alexander Zverev just happy to be back competing against the best
Alexander Zverev has said that he savours being competitive in big tournaments.
-
Tennis News
WTA star announces that she is expecting a baby girl
Alison Riske-Amritraj will be having a daughter.
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner breaks new ground for an Italian player with $20 million milestone
Jannik Sinner will become the first Italian player to bank $20 million in ATP Tour prize money after the Miami Open.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz identifies key Grigor Dimitrov threat as he seeks revenge in Miami showdown
Carlos Alcaraz and Grigor Dimitrov have looked ahead to their Miami Open match.
-
WTA Tour
Charleston Open hand former No 1 wildcard to start her clay season
Wildcards were forthcoming for former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, world No 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Charleston-native Shelby Rogers.
-
Tennis News
Former world No 1 weighs in on Iga Swiatek’s ‘aura’ as he makes ‘intimidating’ claim
“The more accomplishments Iga Swiatek has, the more intimidating it is to play her.”
-
WTA Tour
Naomi Osaka’s clay swing fills out with Rouen wildcard
Naomi Osaka gets Rouen wildcard to kickstart her clay swing.