Evans booed in Paris but he has no regrets

UK tennis star Dan Evans shrugged off being booed at the end of his French Open second-round defeat last night, saying: “I couldn’t care less.”

British No 2 Evans, feeling the effects of a chest infection, put in a shift of almost three-and-a-half hours against 23-year-old Swede Mikael Ymer, only to lose in four sets, 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-2.

When Ymer brought up match point Evans, who had clearly had enough, just swatted his service return into the net.

The half-hearted shot was met with jeers from the crowd on a packed Court Six, but Evans was unrepentant.

“I gave away the last point, but I couldn’t care less to be honest with you,” said the 29th seed.

“I think I’d put enough effort in for three-and-ahalf hours. I was physically spent. That was it for me. That’s the way it is.

“It was a difficult match. It’s frustrating and it’s upsetting, don’t get me wrong, but that’s the way it goes.”

Evans clearly looked out of sorts despite rallying to take the second set, and kept apologising for spitting and blowing his nose on to the court.

“I’ve had a chest infection since Tuesday last week,” he explained. “I’ve been struggling just with that really. It’s not ideal really.

“Normal symptoms, sweating a lot in the night, bad sleep. The normal stuff. It probably took a lot out of me playing through, getting ready. It’s unfortunate.

“Still it’s not an excuse. I was in some good situations but physically I wasn’t spot on. It is what it is.

“Did I consider pulling out? No. In the middle of last week I was a little worried, it’s not nice to be rough. I don’t want to be spitting on the court, it isn’t nice especially in this day and age.

“But I’m sure people understand if you’re ill, you’re ill. I’ve never cramped up in my life and I was cramping today after two-and-a-bit hours. Annoying, but it’s hard lines.”

Evans’ exit means British men’s No 1 Cameron Norrie is the only player from the nation left in the singles.

US Open champion Emma Raducanu was knocked out in the second round, joining Heather Watson and Harriet Dart on the sidelines.

Norrie will take on 21st seed Karen Khachanov in the third round today as he aims to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.

Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev enjoyed a comfortable 6-3 6-4 6-3 second-round win over Serbia’s Laslo Djere. US Open champion Medvedev will face another Serbian, Miomir Kecmanovic, in the third round.

The 26-year-old, who lives in France and has been speaking French in his on-court post-match interviews, has become something of a crowd favourite, a de facto home player.

He said: “Playing against a French guy in Roland Garros is one of the toughest things in tennis.

“You know, first I didn’t like – not that I didn’t like playing in France – but I didn’t have good results. Now I manage to win in Bercy, in Marseille, (reached the) quarters in Roland Garros, so I love playing in France.

“Sometimes you need time to adapt.”

Meanwhile, little-known Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean caused a sensation at Roland Garros by knocking out eighth seed Karolina Pliskova.

The 26-year-old wildcard, ranked 227 in the world, beat last year’s Wimbledon runner-up 6-2 6-2.

In doing so Jeanjean became the lowest-ranked woman to win a match against a top-10 player at the French Open since Conchita Martinez beat Lori McNeil in 1988.

It is a remarkable achievement for a player who was a talented junior but who gave up tennis for almost five years after a serious knee injury.

Third seed Paula Badosa of Spain is through after battling past Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan 7-5 3-6 6-2.

Simona Halep, the 2018 champion, came unstuck against China’s Qinwen Zheng, the Romanian losing 6-2 2-6 1-6.

But world No 1 Iga Swiatek had no such problems, racing through 6-0 6-2 against Alison Riske to take her winning streak to 30 matches.

Ninth seed Danielle Collins lost 6-4 6-3 to fellow American Shelby Rogers.

Madison Keys was another American to triumph, defeating France’s Caroline Garcia 6-4 7-6 (7-3).