Evans ends drought on clay at Monte Carlo
DAN EVANS ended a fourmatch losing streak with his first tour-level victory on clay for four years at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters.
The British No.1 has lost a succession of close contests in recent weeks and saw two match points come and go in a long second-set tie-break against 2019 runner-up Dusan Lajovic before prevailing 6-3, 6-7 (11-13), 6-2.
Evans has always struggled on clay and he had not won a match on the surface at any level since a qualifying victory over Serbian Lajovic in Rome in May 2019.
The match began on Monday but rain washed out play for the day after Evans withstood early pressure to take the opening set.
The 30-year-old from Birmingham missed four match points in losing to Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti in Cagliari last week and nerves were evident from both men in a dramatic second-set tiebreak. Lajovic led 6-4 but Evans hit back to force two match points only to miss a forehand and a smash – normally one of his most reliable shots.
He saved another three set points but Lajovic took his sixth chance, with Evans making his frustration clear at the missed opportunity.
But it was Lajovic who made
a shaky start to the deciding set and Evans capitalised, fighting off more pressure in the final game before clinching his fourth match point and letting out a loud roar.
“It obviously got a bit ugly in the second set,” he said. “It was difficult because the last few matches have been tough, especially last week, and I was thinking about that a bit.
“It was tough to swallow the missed smash but I came back and I thought I played well throughout the whole match to be honest. Dusan’s a good clay-court player. It sounds a bit silly but it’s better when I play a clay-courter on this stuff because they’re not used to my game so much.”
In the second round he will play Miami Open champion Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated Thomas Fabbiano 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
World No.2 Daniil Medvedev withdrew from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
The ATP said the 25-year-old had been moved into isolation and was being monitored by the tournament doctor and the tour’s medical team.
Medvedev lives in the principality and his positive test will call into question the wisdom of the tournament allowing players to stay at home rather than in a strict bubble. The Russian practised with Rafael Nadal on Monday.