Evans leads Great Britain to victory over Germany
Dan Evans inspired Great Britain to a 2-1 ATP Cup win over Germany on Sunday as he beat Jan-LennardStruffinasingles match before helping Jamie Murray to victory in the deciding doubles contest in Sydney.
Evans saw off Struff 6-1 6-2 and then, after Alexander Zverev beat Cameron Norrie 7-6 (2) 6-1 to force a decider, Evans and Murray saw off Kevin Krawietz and Zverev 6-3 6-4.
“The team win is most important,” Evans said. “We all did our job. Cam played a great match. He was a little unlucky and then got back out on the court and was, as always, getting fired up and that’s what we all agree before any team event, that’s what we’ll do for each other.”
Evans dominated the contest against Struff – winning nine straight games to take it from 1-1 in the first set to a 4-0 lead in the second, and there wasnowaybackforStruff,who has now lost all three of his encounters with Evans.
Zverev then gave Germany hope. The world No.3 had to savesetpointwhentrailing5-4 in the first set but, once he had overcome that scare, he dominated in the second to secure victory. Norrie said after the match that he had contracted Covid-19 over the festive period, which had cost him a week of practise.
“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 worstthingintheworldforme.
“Obviously it was just lost a week there, but it is what it is and I actually did a little bit of fitness throughout that period and I stayed healthy and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.” Britain will next face Canada on Tuesday.