Daniel Evans plays a backhand during their match against Rinky Hijikata in Adelaide,
(Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
Dan Evans looks or have recovered well from the calf injury he picked up in Vienna last November as he strode into the second round of the Adelaide International.
“It was a very good match to be part of and the crowd were very fair as well.” Dan Evans
The British No.2 joins Jack Draper in round two following his comfortable defeat of the Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata 6-3 6-4.
Evans, 33, opened up strongly under the Centre Court lights forcing three break points in the Aussie’s opening service game before breaking for a 3-1 lead.
The speedy Brummie produced several moments of brilliance and, although unable to make the most of five more break points two games later, he was untroubled as he dominated the opening set.
Hijikata provided sterner resistance in the second, but Evans took full advantage when the 22-year-old wildcard’s level dropped in the ninth game – allowing him to serve out a satisfying victory.
“I was a little tired – it’s my first match of the year – and it was important to keep focused,” Evans, currently world ranked at 40 having reached a career-high of 21 after winning the biggest title of his career at the Citi Open in Washington last August.
“It was a very good match to be part of and the crowd were very fair as well.”
Commenting on his recovery from injury, he added: “It was challenging to get injured at the end of last year. It took a while to heal and I’m still looking after it. I’m still a little nervous but it feels all right.”
Next up for Evans is the 8th seeded Kazak Alexander Bublik who had an equally comfortable opening round win, defeating another Aussie, Lucky Loser James McCabe 6-2 6-3.
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