Evans has no regrets over split with coach

DAN EVANS is among four British players in action at the US Open today, needing to show the same ruthlessness he has recently applied to his coaching set-up. The British No 2 tackles Adrian Mannarino of France in the first round of his first Grand Slam since splitting with coach David Felgate, who helped resurrect his ranking from oblivion to the verge of the world’s top 50. It looks like the strangest coaching change involving a British player since Jo Konta split with Spaniard Esteban Carril in late 2016, soon after he guided her into the world’s top ten. Felgate is known to have been taken aback by the decision, made earlier this month, but Evans said there had been no falling out, and that there is no obvious replacement. ‘Nothing went on, I just felt differently when we started back after Wimbledon,’ Evans said. ‘I can’t worry about keeping someone coaching me just for the sake of it. ‘I haven’t got time on my side to be p ****** around paying someone for nothing, just not to hurt his feelings.’ Konta, Harriet Dart and Cam Norrie also play first-round matches today, but Andy Murray is elsewhere. He takes the latest step on his comeback at the Rafa Nadal Open Challenger event in Mallorca tonight against 17-year-old Imran Sibille. The French teenager has never played a main draw professional singles match, and has official earnings of barely £100 — around £50million less than the Scot. In the blockbuster match of the US Open first round, Serena Williams tonight faces Maria Sharapova, likely to begin around 12.30am UK time.