Welshman finds his rhythm
Wales is not known for producing elite tennis talent, but the powerful Evan Hoyt (above) is looking to buck the trend. The fifth-seed at this week’s Cairns Tennis International fought back from an early break against Australian qualifier Jesse Delaney yesterday afternoon to advance to the second round of the tournament. Hoyt plays under the banner of Great Britain, like champion Andy Murray who hails from Scotland, and the 23year-old believes tennis is on the rise in Wales.
WALES is not known for producing elite tennis talent, but the powerful Evan Hoyt is looking to buck the trend.
The fifth-seed at this week’s Cairns Tennis International fought back from an early break against Australian qualifier Jesse Delaney yesterday afternoon to advance to the second round of the tournament.
Hoyt plays under the banner of Great Britain, like champion Andy Murray who hails from Scotland, and the 23year-old believes tennis is on the rise in Wales.
“It is a long way for us to come but there is a good run of tournaments here in Australia, including two Challenger events so I am looking forward to them,” Hoyt said.
“There is a few of us who come from Great Britain here this week in Cairns.
“There are a few juniors coming through the ranks in Wales but there are not many senior players at the moment.”
The physically imposing Hoyt went down 4-1 in the first set to the flame-haired Australian and also trailed in the first set tie-break before fighting back to win in two sets, 7-6, 6-0.
“I think I just relaxed in the second set and played a little tactically better,” Hoyt said.
“He has a very good backhand and in the second set I worked it to his forehand side more often … Once I settled in that second set, it was a bit much for him.”
The right-hander has advanced to play Australian Lucas Vuradin, who took three sets to beat American Connor Farren in his first round clash.
Fellow Australian Calum Puttergill was too good for Japan’s Taiyo Yamanaka, while Matthew Dellavedova – cousin to the star basketballer of the same name – fell to China’s Aoran Wang. On the women’s side of the draw, the Gold Coast’s Kimberly Birrell says there is a positive vibe among players in the Far North this week.
The Cairns Tennis International is usually the last event of the 2018-19 Australian Pro Tour, but in 2018 it is the first, with events in Darwin and Toowoomba to follow.
“The first week is about finding your game and playing yourself into it,” Birrell said. “I am really excited to be here. It is different to past years as we were all pretty fatigued and we were towards the end of the tour, it was tough. Everyone is fresh and excited this year.”