L16: (3) Daniel Smethurst WR 373 beat Sascha Zverev (GER) WR 827 : 6-2, 6-1
L16: (2) Daniel Evans WR 327 beat Constant Lestienne (FRA) WR 672 : 6-3, 6-3

QF: (3) Daniel Smethurst WR 373 v (6) Grzegorz Panfil (POL) WR 426
QF: (2) Daniel Evans WR 327 v (5) Patrick Rosenholm (SWE) WR 437

Of the 8 second round matches in this event all were won in straight sets, none included a tie break and the most games won by a beaten player was 6.

As I said last week I wasn't too bothered about how Evo did in these two clay court events. While he certainly can play on the surface he had only played one match on it in three years so my expectations were somewhat limited. However, having reached the SF and with the draw having opened up nicely he certainly should now be looking to go on and win it.

You also do have to wonder whether there was any comeback following his alleged less than perfect preparation for last week's QF in Newcastle. If what we were told by BTBB is a true than you have to assume that Leon Smith was also made aware of it. In such a case I would hope that Leon would have made it absolutely clear to Dan that his renewed standing with the LTA and the benefits that it accompany it (funding for coaching, access to the NTC, wild cards, etc) would not survive any further indiscretions.

As for Smethurst, I really don't know what to make of him. In some ways he is just as much of an enigma as Evo. Some absolutely cracking results and some very disappointing defeats.