EVANS: BALLS NOT FIT FOR A DOG

DAN EVANS made a colourful contribution to the debate around the balls in use at the French Open after slipping to an agonising first round defeat. ‘Some of these balls, you wouldn’t give them to a dog to chew,’ he said in the wake of a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 defeat by Kei Nishikori. He had just spent three hours and 49 minutes chasing them around the desolate surroundings of outside Court No 14, and clearly agrees with the sentiment that has been expressed by Rafael Nadal among others. The British No 1 did not blame them for what was the latest in a series of narrow defeats since the tour resumed after lockdown. He did point out, however, that it was unsatisfactory to use the Dunlop brand in the two weeks leading up to the clay court Grand Slam, then have to play with the Wilson variety that are being employed this fortnight. ‘It was brutal, so cold, but the balls are the biggest thing,’ Evans (right) added. ‘Maybe they got it wrong. It’s tough to get that ball to go anywhere because it’s too heavy. ‘It would have been nice to maybe use them the weeks before, that was all. It could have been a bit better for everyone.’ At the start it appeared that former world No 4 Nishikori, whose tennis upbringing has taken place largely in Florida, did not fancy the cold conditions too much, and that it would prove an advantage to someone who grew up in the Midlands. But the British player will look back at certain points of the match and know he could have clinched it against someone with little recent form to fall back on. Evans served for the third set after coming back from 5-2 down, and had a break point at 3-3 in the decider which he lost through an unforced error. In the end, the famed quality of Nishikori’s service returns just about got him through.