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US Open 2019: Dan Evans to face Roger Federer, Johanna Konta also into third round


Dan Evans also reached the US Open third round in 2013 and 2016 – but has never gone beyond that stage
US Open 2019
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 26 Aug – 8 Sep
Coverage: Live text and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentary on selected matches on the BBC Sport website and app. Click here for Live Guide.

Dan Evans set up another Grand Slam meeting with Roger Federer by beating French 25th seed Lucas Pouille in the US Open second round in New York.

The British number two, 29, dug deep to overcome an out-of-sorts Pouille in a 6-4 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 win.

Meanwhile, Johanna Konta made an impressive statement as she swatted aside unseeded Russian Margarita Gasparyan in 54 minutes.

The British number one, 28, hit 24 winners in an emphatic 6-1 6-0 victory.

Evans to face ‘mirror image’ Federer again

Evans, now 58th in the world after being unranked last year, impressively punished Pouille in the opening two sets, then recovered well after losing his way in the third.

Federer, who beat Evans at the Australian Open in January, lies in wait on Friday.

Evans was praised by the Swiss great after the Briton pushed him in a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 second-round defeat in Melbourne and has another opportunity to test him further in New York.

The 38-year-old said it was like “playing in the mirror a little bit” and then went on to invite Evans to practise with him in Switzerland before the French Open.

Federer has made slow starts in his opening wins over Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal and Damir Dzumhur, looking a shadow of his usual self in poor first sets.

He has the benefit of an extra day off after playing his second-round victory under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof on Wednesday, while Evans’ match against Pouille was pushed back to Thursday because of the rain which cancelled play on the outer courts.

There was little danger of more weather disruption as the sunshine returned to New York, with Evans using the favourable conditions at a sun-baked Flushing Meadows to his advantage.

With plenty of British backing on a packed court 12, Evans edged an entertaining first set, where both players pushed the other on their service games, by taking his third set point.

Pouille reached the Australian Open semi-finals in January, albeit being outclassed at that stage by eventual champion Novak Djokovic, but struggled to land a first serve as signs of his streakiness appeared.

Evans looked to be cruising towards victory when he went an early break up on the third, only to plant a volley for a 5-2 lead into the net, which looked like it could prove costly.

That error allowed Pouille to fight back and force a fourth set after the Frenchman finally found his service game to win a tie-break which Evans had led 3-0.

Evans put that disappointment behind him by breaking in the first game of the fourth and, after swapping breaks again, took his second match point to win in three hours and 10 minutes.

More to follow.



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