NO DJOK! EVANS BEATS NOVAK
Brit stuns world’s top player with straight-sets win in Monaco as raging rival has absolute shocker
DAN EVANS produced the finest victory of his career to stun Novak Djokovic in the third round of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The British No.1, whose first-round win was his first on clay at tour level for four years, had never beaten a top-six star.
But he put on a brilliant performance against a belowpar Djokovic to win 6-4 7-5.
The world No.1 had won his first 10 matches this season while Evans arrived in Monaco on a four-match losing streak.
Serb Djokovic was fuming about his showing and said: “Congratulations to him. He deserved to win. He was a better player. Just more focused and played with a better quality in the decisive moments.
“That was one of the worst matches and performances from my side I can recall in the last few years.
“I don’t want to take anything away from his win but, from my side, I just felt awful on the court overall.
“Nothing worked. It’s one of those days. I can’t take anything positive away from this match. It’s not the first, neither the last, loss but definitely leaves a bitter feeling exiting the court.”
It was a first meeting between the two and Djokovic said: “He’s got a good all-around game. He’s really a nice player to watch, not a great player to play against. Lots of talent.
“He’s very unpredictable with his shots. He dismantled my game.”
Evans revealed Djokovic had given him extra motivation with his pre-match dithering and left the Englishman in a foul mood before a ball had even been served.
The 30-year-old said: “He kept me waiting in the changing rooms before the match.
“That was a little annoying and got me a extra fired up.
“It’s one against one, got to roll the balls out and see who wins. He gave me some cheap ones, which he never normally does, so I was a little lucky there. I’m just really happy with coming through.”
Djokovic was playing only his second match since winning the Australian Open in February and looked incredibly rusty initially in cool and windy conditions, losing the first three games.
He improved significantly after that and managed to pull it back to 4-4.
But Evans did not allow his level to drop, trading brilliantly with Djokovic from the back of the court and varying the angles and pace intelligently.
Another break of serve gave him the chance to serve for the set and he clinched it on his third chance.
Evans would have expected a response from Djokovic and he got it, the Serb moving into a 3-0 lead in the second set.
This was one of the worst matches and performances I can recall from my side in the last few years NOVAK DJOKOVIC ON HIS STRUGGLES AGAINST BRITISH NO.1
But he still did not look entirely comfortable and back came the British player to level at 3-3.
Djokovic kept the pressure on but Evans did not buckle and, at 5-5, it was the top seed who double-faulted to hand his opponent the break.
That gave the Englishman the chance to serve for the win of his life and he took it to move into the quarter-finals of a Masters event for the first time, where he will face David Goffin.