GOOD EVANS, IT’S FEDERER NEXT!

FROM the naughty step to a high-profile showdown with Roger Federer — the comeback of Dan Evans gathers pace. The 28-year-old Midlander became the last British man standing at the Australian Open when he avoided the first-day cull and now he has the chance to test himself against the defending champion in the second round. After a hard-earned 7-5, 6-1, 7-6 victory over a fellow qualifier, Japan’s Tatsuma Ito, Evans will try to mount a stiffer challenge than he managed when he played Federer in the third round at Wimbledon in 2016 and won only eight games. ‘It’s not very often you get to play Roger on a big court and it’s something I will look forward to,’ said Evans (right), who after returning from his cocaine ban in April looks in probably the best physical shape of his career. Kyle Edmund, a surprise semifinalist here a year ago, faces a steep drop in his ranking after his nightmare first-round draw against Tomas Berdych turned out to be as difficult as feared. After a 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 defeat, the British No 1 will fall from 14th to as low as 30th in the world. Edmund, who has had knee problems this month, was trying to stay philosophical. ‘I’m not in the worst position,’ he said. ‘You just have to have patience and give stuff time to get better, including my game.’ Cameron Norrie was another first-day loser, having hot-footed it from Auckland, where he reached the final of the ASB Classic on Saturday. The British No 2 went down 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 to his doubles partner, American Taylor Fritz.