EVANS ABOVE
Dan: I feared I’d never be accepted on a tennis court again after drugs ban
DAN EVANS feared he’d never be welcome on a tennis court again during the 12-month drugs ban that stopped his rising star in its tracks.
But yesterday the 28-yearold wept amid the warmth of an adoring Davis Cup crowd who took him back to their hearts after a courageous performance got Great Britain off to a flier.
There were many remarkable things about Evans prevailing in this gutsy five-set thriller over Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin.
There’s the cavernous gulf in the world rankings with Istomin’s 60 spot a whopping 160 places above Evans who is gradually clawing his way back up after his enforced absence.
It’s also only four-and-a-half months since Evans’ competitive return at an ATP Challenger tournament – also in Glasgow at Scotstoun Leisure Centre.
So to go toe to toe with a man who conquered the mighty Novak Djokovic at last year’s US Open, to bounce back from being whitewashed 6-0 in the third set and STILL win?
It’s no wonder afterwards the Birmingham man broke down and later hailed it his biggest step yet on the road to redemption after testing positive for cocaine in April 2017.
In the months since there have been countless dark days when he wondered if he’d ever make it back to the top – and even now he admits there still are.
But yesterday’s 7-6 4-6 0-6 6-4 7-5 win in front of a thrilled Emirates Arena crowd was a huge boost to the belief he still belongs – and just as importantly he’s still welcome.
Evans said: “I was nervous to see how people might react when I came back. Obviously opinions differ on what I did but the crowd have always been great here for all the matches.
“Everyone I played in front of, not just here, have
been great BY EUAN McLEAN since I came back. Especially the players on tour, they have been great.
“The toughest thing during that year out was being so far away from the world you are used to. That’s the hardest part.
“I had to live a pretty boring sheltered life, no real existence or importance.
“I didn’t have anything to do because I couldn’t even play tennis. I had to just wait at home for my girlfriend to come home from work, that was it really.
“For sure I still have moments now, I’m nowhere near back yet. I’m only 200 in the world. I still have doubts now if I’ll get back.
“I guess that is pretty normal but days like this you see there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“This was a good moment. I’ve worked hard to get back to the level I’m at and it is only a step going forward.
“You don’t get moments like that very often and I didn’t think it’d come this quick. It is always an honour and a privilege to represent my country and get a win which I haven’t done much of in Davis Cup.”
He didn’t half have to dig deep to earn it. From edging into a first set lead on a tiebreak, Istomin survived eight break points to frustrate Evans 6-4 in the second and the lingering damage was exposed in that third-set whitewash.
With Evans managing only seven points in those six painful games it seemed the rankings don’t lie but the Brummie battled through.
He said: “It was great to get through because it could have got messy at 30-0 down in my first service game.”