Dan Evans booked his place in the quarter-finals of the LTA’s Rothesay Open in Nottingham – but predicted a bright future for his 18-year-old opponent Henry Searle.
British No.3 Evans, 34, got past the teenager 7-6(4) 7-6(5) and admitted he had to be at his best to get beat the 2023 Junior Wimbledon champion.
And Birmingham-born Evans believes the tough test can only help his preparations as he targets a third title at Nottingham and a successful grass court season.
“It was a good match. It was very tight. His game is very good for a grass court and it was a difficult match,” said Evans. “It’s not an easy match-up for me but I played well and he played well.
“He is obviously very good, he is going to be a hell of a player. I was fully ready and I had to be fired up to get across the line. I only just got across.
“It was an enjoyable match, I am just happy to come through. It was not really the draw I wanted to see when I saw he was next to my name but credit to him, he played great and I played very good as well.
“If I didn’t play well today I wasn’t winning the match. I couldn’t play seven or eight out of 10, I had to play better and I did. I am just happy to come through it.
“That was such a tough match and should set me in good stead for the rest of the grass season.”
Evans will face fellow Brit Charles Broom in the last eight after the latter beat South African Lloyd Harris 7-6(2) 2-6 6-4
The pair are two of at least four Brits in the last eight with Jacob Fearnley coming out on top against compatriot Paul Jubb 6-1 6-7(14) 6-3, with British No.1 Cameron Norrie taking on Jack Pinnington-Jones for a place in the quarter-finals. Billy Harris takes on Brazil’s Joao Fonseca in his second round match hoping to make it five.
It comes on top of 10 British men reaching the first round of the main draw and heavy British success at last year’s edition of the tournament, where Katie Boulter and Andy Murray won the women’s and men’s singles titles and Fearnley and Johannus Monday won the doubles title.
For Evans, the success on home soil underlines the importance of British tournaments in providing a platform for the next generation of stars.
“This is what it’s all about, it’s about the British players,” he added. “This is where the younger guys can come through and make their mark, that’s what they’re doing.
“The more of these tournaments that are on, the more you guys can come and watch, everybody wins out of it.”
For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
