Hot Evans hits
FOR a man who is desperate to get home to his friends and family, Dan Evans is hiding it well.
The British No2 secured his place in the second round of the US Open with a solid and efficient 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 dismissal of Rajeev Ram, the world No104 from the United States.
Out on Court 4, where the hustle and bustle of the Flushing Meadows crowd seems louder and more distracting than normal, Evans gritted his teeth, did what he knew he should and got the job done in two and a half hours to keep his place in the draw.
“It was a bit patchy,” he said, being hyper-critical. “It could have been a bit more comfortable but winning in the first round is always good and in the end I was playing pretty well.
“It was a court where I struggle to concentrate quite a bit. It actually helped me in the end because I had to focus hard. I sensed he was struggling a bit so I tried to keep the points quick and give him as little rest as possible.”
Evans opted to sidestep the Olympics in order to concentrate on collecting ranking points on the main tour. Starting the year ranked 183 in the world, he is now up to 64 but, even so, six tournaments in seven weeks are taking their toll on him.
“I think this is week seven,” he said. “It’s pretty long. It’s been pretty good really. It’s worked out pretty good. I’ve enjoyed it, that’s for sure.
“But I just miss my friends, really, home comforts, being able to do what I want for a bit. It’s not on the schedule. I’m going home after this tournament, so I should have a bit of time to relax,