Evans defeats Isner and eyes ATP Tour title

Dan Evans produced one of the best wins of his career against world No9 John Isner to reach the final of the Delray Beach Open in Florida.

Evans recovered from a difficult start to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 32 minutes to qualify for his second ATP Tour final.

This has been the 28-year-old’s best week since his return from a one-year ban for cocaine use last April, and the former British No2 remains on course to claim his first ATP title. His last tour final was the 2017 Apia International in Sydney when he lost to Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.

Evans, who has guaranteed his return to the world’s top 120, was giving away more than a foot in height to the 6ft 10in Isner.

And the omens did not look good as the American broke Evans’s first service game to lead 2-0.

Isner, the second seed, closed out the first set with a second break of serve, but Evans responded superbly in the next set. He broke to lead 4-2 and dominated the final set.

“I just play every match as it comes,” Evans, 28, said. “I know it sounds very cliche. You have to stay resilient in the sport because it’s so up and down. Obviously, my downfall was by my own wrongdoing. Let’s say mine was a mental issue.”

Isner reached three Delray Beach semi-finals from 2012-14, but has never advanced to the final. “There’s something about the semi-finals here,” he said. “I’m good enough to get into the semis. It’s getting to me now. I just sort of did a walkabout. I think tactically I did some things poorly today and that’s what cost me. He just kept hitting a lot of balls.”