Evans passes
ON THE verge of the biggest win of his career, Dan Evans could not bring himself to think that he would succeed.
He was dismantling the world No7 Marin Cilic and was on his way to the third round of the Australian Open but he did not dare believe that it would happen.
He had been here before. He was within a couple of points of beating Stan Wawrinka at the US Open last September but fluffed a smash, one that he would have put away nine times out of 10 in any other situation.
Had he landed the shot, he would have had a match point. But he did not and his chance was gone. The memory lingered for months.
But yesterday, at last, he achieved his win. He outthought and outplayed the big Croat and in two minutes shy of three hours, he beat Cilic 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
Evans was clever, he was patient and, in the end, he was just too good for the former US Open champion. “It is definitely the biggest win of my career,” he said.
Last week, he reached his first main Tour final in Sydney, beating world No8 Dominic Thiem along the way. But those matches are played over the best of three sets. This was a Grand Slam; the real deal.
“Obviously over five sets, it’s a proper win,” he said. “Five sets is the ultimate test. It was really good. I played as well as I can play today.”
Even if Evans knew he was at the peak of his game yesterday, he could not help thinking back to that Wawrinka game and the disappointment that followed.
“There were some tough times after the Wawrinka match,” said Evans. “I still thought about that match on the court today. It’s not easy when you had the opportunity to close out the big match and then lose.
“I’m happy it happened today. Hopefully there will be no more dark times.”
It did not look too promising in the opening set as Cilic did what Cilic always does: serving with power and hitting the cover off the ball.
Rocked back on his heels by the sheer weight of shot flying towards him, Evans could do nothing to stop the first set getting away from him – but then he started to play canny.
He defended as if his life depended upon it and gave Cilic no pace with which to work to change the momentum of the match. And when he watched the Croat dump a forehand into the net on a third match point, Evans let other day. It’s Uniqlo. The shirts are 19.99 [Australian dollars] and I got about 18. I went back this morning to buy some more. They’re not the best quality, to sweat in and wash. But I only wore one shirt today. I’m good until Friday.”
Evans, who now meets Australia’s Bernard Tomic, would like to renew his deal with Nike and has had no other offers.
“I’ve not had any at the minute anyway,” he said. “We will see. Another win and I might get one.” out a roar that could be heard for miles.
“I didn’t want to go down the other end, sit down and serve for it,” said Evans. “I didn’t think I did much wrong in the two other match points, so I was pretty pleased when he netted the forehand.
“I try not to think about the finishing line too far into the match because you get ahead of yourself.”
The win has pushed Evans up to No49 in the world and should he beat Bernard Tomic tomorrow, he will climb even higher.
Just 18 months ago, his ranking was in apparently terminal decline in the mid700s. The story of his career had been moments of promise followed by wasted months.
Now, though, at the age of 26, the penny has dropped and Evans is willing to work with his coach Mark Hilton to turn his talent into results. That change in him is down to Hilton.
“The end of last year was a test for ‘Hilt’,” he said. “I wasn’t at my best. He was just urging me to stay focused. That was the best thing for me. “I respect what he has to say. That’s a big thing for me, that’s gospel, I will go with it.”
With his ranking on the rise, Evans will now be rubbing shoulders with the big boys week-in, week-out. The Masters 1000 events are open to him now, events where the ranking points and the prize money are huge.
He has worked hard for such an opportunity – and now he is ready to capitalise on it.
But first there is Tomic to deal with tomorrow. Evans is not done with the Australian Open yet.
Hopefully there will be no more dark times