TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN OPEN
DAN EVANS is targeting a return to Wimbledon without the need for a wildcard after winning the ultimate compliment from Roger Federer.
The Swiss superstar yesterday claimed it was “like playing a mirror” as the world No.189 matched the defending champion for the first two sets before going down 7-6 7-6 6-3.
The British No.4 admitted he was in a “bad place” back home in Cheltenham during last year’s Australian Open as he served a 12-month drug ban. Evans, who was not invited to SW19 last year, said: “I’d like to be in the main draw at Wimbledon off my own ranking.
“It would be easier for a lot of people. That would mean I’ve won a lot of matches.
“Obviously this week helps. But it’s a lot easier to play against Federer – there’s not as much pressure.
“I have to do it in the tournaments I’m expected to win.” The former world No.41, who tested positive for cocaine in April 2017, said: “I didn’t watch any of the matches here last year. I was in a bad place.
“The nine months I had off were terrible. A lot went on and a lot has gone on – a lot of s**t.
Alien
“It’s so alien when you come back. I just thought it was normal to wake up in the morning, be okay and go and play. I didn’t think about it.
“Now I have to focus on it, because I hadn’t done it for so long. So it was difficult at the start. But it’s good that I come here and I still get up to play here.
“If I couldn’t, that would have been a big issue.
“I don’t want to be playing qualifiers at grand slams. I’m no way near where I want to be yet.”
Evans missed two consecutive volleys while leading 5-4 against Federer in the first tie-break.
But he said: “I’ve no regrets. I put my game on the court and some matches you come off second guessing. I don’t think I did any of that today.”