British No 1 Dan Evans sweeps aside 39-year-old Feliciano Lopez to book spot in second round of Wimbledon… joining Andy Murray and Liam Broady as home favourites to progress
- Dan Evans made light work of Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in round one of Wimbledon
- Lopez found it tough to make any inroads on the Evans serve, losing 7-6, 6-2, 7-5
- Evans becomes the third British player to progress in the men’s singles event
British No 1 Dan Evans became the third homegrown player to reach round two at Wimbledon in men’s singles after a straight sets win over Feliciano Lopez.
The world No 26 will no doubt have been inspired watching Andy Murray‘s epic four-set win over Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili and it was one of Murray’s close friends on the ATP Tour that he put to the sword on Tuesday with a 7-6, 6-2, 7-5 win.
Evans’ serve was proving incredibly reliable early on and losing a first set tiebreak 7-4 appeared to knock some of the belief out of a 39-year-old Lopez as Court 2 marvelled at the home favourite’s composure.
Dan Evans put in a dominant display on Court 2 to reach the second round at Wimbledon
Feliciano Lopez, 39, wore down as the match went on as he struggled to break Evans’ serve
Evans was cheered on by his girlfriend Aleah (centre) as he excelled on a busy Court 2
The second was more straightforward, over and done with in 27 minutes with Lopez mustering just two games as injury, while he would not accept it, appeared to be bothering him the more the match wore on.
Evans has never lost a match from two sets up and this one never looked like getting away from him, Lopez wasting his only opportunity with a pair of break points at 40-15 on 3-3 in the third.
It was unforced errors that badly hurt Lopez in the key moments; his total of 35 far exceeded what Evans racked up.
Evans spoke after about holding his nerve in key moments and he did that in the first set
Taking the first set on a tiebreak set the tone and Evans never let his grip slide thereafter
The British No 1 has never gone beyond the third round at SW19 but will believe his game has now elevated to a position of strength in getting through to the second week.
Victory over Lopez has set up a second round meeting with one of Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic or Frenchman Gilles Simon.
‘It was great, thanks to everyone for coming out,’ Evans told the BBC.
‘It’s great to be back at Wimbledon. I played some good tennis and he is a difficult match on the grass so I’m happy to come through.
‘The first set I was too into myself but once I let go a bit I was rolling and at the end I was patient and got a chance. It was a good mental effort today.’
Evans added: ‘I’m working to get to that place with my game where I don’t give away any games and I’m closing on that.’
The crowd were thrilled by Evans’ consistency as he progressed winning in straight sets