Britains own Enfant terrible promises to clean up his act

The British No 1, now 17, is desperate to control his fiery temper, which landed him in trouble in 2006, without losing the aggression that makes him the most likely of the next generation to follow in Andy Murray's footsteps.

After a series of code violations, invariably for using foul and abusive language on court, Evans was given a one-month ban and told to clean up his act by the Lawn Tennis Association.

In the mood for a game: Dan Evans will be carrying Britain's hopes

He returns 12 months later, having learned his lesson but determined not to be completely silenced.

"Obviously I wish it hadn't happened," said the Brummie teenager. "I'm quite loud on court and I'm not going to go into my shell. You can't swear and I wish I hadn't been banned. But it's not the be-all and end-all.

"I've always been that way.Everybody wants to win and that's the way I show it. It helps me. I can't see myself being quiet and winning very often. I just have to channel things in the right way. I'm trying not to say so much on court, but to stay pumped up without getting into trouble.When that happens I play pretty good tennis."

He is rated so highly that Paul Hutchins,the LTA's head of men's tennis, said: "I'd like five or six Dan Evanses. He's got beautiful racket skills and is an exceptional player. He is fiery,and we're going to have discussions with Dan about a few things. But he's a fun guy and I'm sure he has great desire."

Since winning the British Under-16s without dropping a set, Evans, who started playing at the age of six at his local club in Solihull, travelled abroad to win an ITF junior event in Paraguay at the start of this year, reached a final in the Czech Republic and has risen to No 24 in the ITF world junior rankings.

An all-court player with a matchwinning forehand, this son of an electrical shop owner is the latest of the promising juniors Britain has produced in the past 20 years.

His task, and that of those in his age group, is to make a successful leap into the senior ranks.

"We've always had good juniors," said Hutchins. "It's from 16 onwards that we've struggled.We want Dan to fulfil his undoubted potential."

The chances of him doing that are uncertain. His coach Mark Hilton and Hutchins know the boy has to grow up fast to compete effectively on the world circuit.

"Dan is the best we've got," said Hilton. "But that doesn't mean he's going to make it. He must improve his discipline and his professionalism. And he has to do it quickly. I'm not sure he realises yet what has to be done. If he does, and buys into it, he has a chance."

Hutchins is encouraged by the current group which, in addition to Evans, includes three more in the top 60 in David Rice, 18, Daniel Cox, 16, and Graeme Dyce, 17, plus highly-rated 14-year-olds Nick Jones and Jack Carpenter.

In six months in the job,Hutchins has made it his priority to turn talented teenagers into fiercer competitors.

"The one thing we've concentrated on is mental toughness," said the former Davis Cup captain.

"Too many players haven't been tough enough. I've asked Dr Ann Quinn, (LTA head of science) to give me the material to make our players stronger mentally, while looking at the whole area of sports psychology, medical and physical fitness. It comes from discipline, better preparation and better ability to play on clay, more willingness to play abroad in tough conditions rather than the soft options of playing domestically.

"We've extended the number of training camps abroad and junior tournaments our players enter around the world. Young players have to accept being away for 25 weeks a year.

"In the end it comes down to the players. People blame the LTA for an enormous amount, but we must change the culture and make the players realise it's up to them. My expression is that it's 90 per cent them and 10 per cent LTA. We can't win matches for them and that's the message we want to get across to young players and their parents."

Evans said: "I've got the heart and desire for it. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be wasting my time playing tennis. It's good to see Andy doing well and everyone wants to be where he is."

If the firebrand trying to be a reformed character can get there, a lot of people will be happy. Then maybe a few more will follow, too.

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