Greg predicts a top-20 future ahead for Evans
DAN EVANS can become a top-20 player if he keeps up his superb Australian Open form, according to former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski.
Evans made the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career after pulling off consecutive shocks against world No. 7 Marin Cilic and Australian Bernard Tomic.
His run has been no fluke. At the US Open in September, Evans had match point against eventual champion Stan Wawrinka and arrived in Melbourne on the back of reaching his first ATP final in Sydney.
Rusedski, who achieved a career-high ranking of fourth in 1997, believes the top 20 is a realistic target.
“Dan has impressed me out of sight. The way he is playing you’re looking at a top-20 player,” said Rusedski.
“It’s an amazing achievement for Dan. We’ve been talking about him fulfilling his potential for quite a while but we are seeing the real Dan Evans this year.
“It is incredible what he has done. First reaching the final in Sydney for his first ATP final and now backing it up against Marin Cilic and Bernard Tomic.
“For me, I expected him to get the job done against Tomic and he did by playing some brilliant tennis. The sliced backhand is a big weapon for him.
“But also the forehand, for a small guy, is strong too. He just keeps on going through the physical battles.”
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal says his five-set win against Alexander Zverev has given him a huge boost of confidence for the rest of the Australian Open.
Nadal defied doubts about both his fitness and form during a pulsating four-hour contest on Rod Laver Arena, at the end of which he had beaten the talented Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6-2.
The Spaniard will now continue his pursuit of a 15th grand slam title against France’s sixth seed Gael Monfils.
“For confidence, for a lot of things, it’s important to win these kind of matches,” Nadal said.
“I worked a lot during all December to have the chances to compete well in these kind of moments. Even if I start the match with some nerves, I think I was able to came back well.”
JOHANNA KONTA’S Australian Open charge shows no sign of slowing after the British No. 1 annihilated Caroline Wozniacki to make the last 16.
Konta is ranked only 11 spots higher than world No. 20 Wozniacki but she exposed a considerable gulf in class on Margaret Court Arena to win 6-3 6-1 in just 75 minutes.
She now faces Russian world No. 34 Ekaterina Makarova, whom she beat 4-6 6-4 8-6 here last year, with the winner likely to earn a quarter-final showdown with Serena Williams.