Good omens for Evans as Brits head for Queen’s

DAN EVANS once again emerged as the sheriff of Nottingham after winning the pre-Wimbledon grass-court event there for the second time in three editions.

The British No2 defeated Australia’s Jordan Thompson 6-4, 6-4 to claim the £100,000 title and boost his confidence as he heads into this week’s Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club. He will need to be on his best form there, as he has drawn defending champion Matteo Berrettini in the first round, fresh off his win in Stuttgart. Evans is one of a bumper seven British players in the Queen’s draw. That is the highest total since 1996 and a more substantial proportion as it is now a 32-man draw, as opposed to 56 back then. The number was added to yesterday when Paul Jubb, 22, completed an impressive weekend by coming through the qualifying event. After beating Australia’s James Duckworth on Saturday he followed it up with another excellent victory yesterday, beating American Steve Johnson 7-6, 7-5. He was rewarded by being placed against the much-improved Dutch No1 Botic van de Zandschulp, which is actually one of the kinder draws among what is a difficult hand for the home contingent.

Top seed and French Open finalist Casper Ruud faces the relatively unheralded Ryan Peniston, while Jack Draper is up against Taylor Fritz. Cam Norrie also has a tough first round, versus Grigor Dimitrov, and Liam Broady tackles Marin Cilic.