FOR BRITS THE MIRACLE IS EVANS-SENT

DAN EVANS conjured two wins and a miracle shot as Great Britain gained “sweet revenge” on Germany at the ATP Cup in Sydney.

The Germans beat the Brits in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup in November by winning the decisive doubles. But the roles were reversed Down Under as Evans (above) won the opening singles – then combined with Jamie Murray to clinch the tie in the doubles.

And the inspired British No.2 also produced his ridiculous behind-theback shot during a frenzied second-set rally which led to an amazed Alex Zverev putting his return volley out. “It was instinct,” laughed Evans. “I was running forward because I saw him running forward and I just followed.”

World No.25 Evans won nine straight games from 1-1 in the first set to beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1 6-2. Cam Norrie, who is recovering from Covid, lost 7-6 6-1 to world No.3 Zverev (below) before both teams made big calls for the doubles. British captain Liam Broady sent out Evans instead of doubles king Joe Salisbury. And Germany broke up the partnership of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz to send out Zverev.

But Evans and Murray saw off Krawietz and Zverev 6-3 6-4 in 78 entertaining minutes.

“We are really lucky and blessed with the team that we have,” said Broady. “It is sweet revenge for what happened in the Davis Cup.”

British No.1 Norrie said catching Covid has cost him a week of practice over Christmas.

“I had Covid, but I had no symptoms, I was very fortunate,” he said. “It was unfortunate I couldn’t get out on the court and play, but I had had a long season anyway, played a lot of matches, so it wasn’t the worst thing in the world for me.”

Britain will face Canada in Group C tomorrow in the 16-team event.

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has flown from Belgrade to Marbella in Spain for warm-weather training but organisers claim they don’t know if he is going to the Australian Open, which he has won nine times.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley, who said some players had been granted medical exemptions from vaccines, added: “We will have a much clearer picture in the coming days. Otherwise, it’s getting pretty late for him to show up and play in the Australian Open.”