Week 2 - Australian Open Qualifying

Constant · Lower Club Player

RE: Week 2 - Australian Open Qualifying

wolf · Tennis legend

Dan was broken to love in the first game of the second set but has broken back and it is *3-3.

wolf · Tennis legend

But broken to 15 3-4*.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Dan had a bp at 3-4* but made an ue. Lost the set 4-6

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Dan with a bp early in the 3rd set. Saved. Gets another bp which he takes for *2-0

Dan down 15-40 saves both bps. BF gets another bp. Saved. Bp number 4 saved. Bp number 5 sees BF make an ue. Dan takes his first game point as BF makes another ue. 3-0*

BF making a lot of ues at the moment. Two poor forehands make it 15-40 df gifts Dan the break *4-0

Dan holds to 15, BF slightly ahead on winners in the match to date but 15 more ues too 5-0*

2 forehand winners give Dan 3 match points. He takes the first 6-0

--

Super final set from Dan 9 winners to 1 ue. First serve percentage 87% 0 dfs. After making an ue on his 5th bp at *2-0, BF won 2 points out of 16.

-- Edited by kundalini on Saturday 16th of January 2016 04:19:02 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yay, after that big hold for Dan at 2-0* in the final set it appeared on the live score as if BF just fell away, but maybe also Dan just really upped his level.

Anyway, great to see him qualify !!

FQR: Dan Evans WR 185 beat (q17) Bjorn Fratangelo (USA) WR 131 (CH 106 08/15) 7-5 4-6 6-0 biggrin

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 16th of January 2016 04:17:34 AM

Robin · Lower Club Player

Just....Terrific!

steven · Tennis legend

Stunning way to despatch Frat (for the third time in three months!) in the 3rd after losing the 2nd

A few comments from Twitter:

David Law: "First set Evans 7-5. Saved break point at 5-5 with an outrageous behind back flick after misjudging lob"

Anthony Constant (a British expat, I think, in Melbourne, who was courtside): "@GBtennis @glenysfurness @TheTennisTalker yep superb effort from @Evo151216 looked to have the measure of frat even after dropping a set" & "@scambers73 @GBtennis best shot at start of third set. Back hand overhead reaction at the net. Set the tone."

Simon Cambers (freelancer but effectively the Guardian's tennis correspondent): "@GBtennis He wore him down in the end - Fratangelo was out on his feet by the end. Big game at 2-0 in the third did the damage" - that suggests Dan's been putting some effort into fitness in the off-season!

So, GB has 6 Brits in the AO singles main draws for the first time since 2012 (4 women, 2 men), which if I remember correctly was itself the first time since 1992 (5 women, 1 man) and, according to the ATP, 4 man in the AO singles main draw for the first time for 28 years!

Q/LL slots in R1 are as follows, though by the time most of you see this, we'll probably know who he's got!

4 slots v seeds - (8) Ferrer, (18) López, (23) Monfils, (25) Sock
7 slots v unseeded DAs - Veselý, Andújar, Estrella, Krajicek, Haase, Kuznetsov, Gimeno
6 slots in Q v Q matches

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Fab result for Evo!!!!!
BF does appear to have a capacity to implode, similar pattern of behaviour at Binghamton challenger against Kyle in the final although different score.

I agree with Simon Chambers. Dan looks fitter, during the summer he looked like he was carrying some weight (I mean for an elite athlete not your average holte ender) and now seems to be getting his body fat ratio right down suggesting some really hard graft and perhaps attention to diet. The latter I think for an athlete on the pro tennis tour is quite challenging unless you are earning well or showing phenomenal discipline and organization.

I can remember being very surprised by the comments of a SF Giants pitcher either Lincecum, Matt Cain or Bryan Wilson who having just signed to a major contract and then stepping up in performance attributed the capacity to pay to have his food prepared with a view to optimal nutritional content/calorific requirement and delivered i.e. Each meal, was critical to getting everything just right. This type of detail will be essential for Dan if he is to realize his true potential and get deep into the top 100.

Regardless I sense Dan is getting rewarded for putting in some hard yards in 2015. Long may it continue Could not be happier for him. Time to buckle down the straps and focus on playing well at the level his talent deserves i.e. the GS main draw.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 16th of January 2016 07:26:01 AM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 16th of January 2016 07:26:41 AM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 16th of January 2016 07:27:24 AM

steven · Tennis legend

He ended up getting the 2nd worst draw available - 18th seed López. I wouldn't put it past him though ...

Frat got the lucky loser place and drew our old (Brit-bashing) friend Stéphane Robert

-- Edited by steven on Saturday 16th of January 2016 07:59:26 AM

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Great job Evo :D

Tough R1 draw but he's battle hardened and ready...

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Great news to wake up to! Shame about the draw. But you never know with evo might just do it!

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Great stuff Evo.

Constant · Lower Club Player

steven wrote:

Anthony Constant (a British expat, I think, in Melbourne, who was courtside): "@GBtennis @glenysfurness @TheTennisTalker yep superb effort from @Evo151216 looked to have the measure of frat even after dropping a set" & "@scambers73 @GBtennis best shot at start of third set. Back hand overhead reaction at the net. Set the tone."

That's me. =)

First set was very even. Evans movement meant Frat had to hit the lines and missed frequently. Evans returned pretty much everything and those he missed were due to being outwide and low.

Second set Frat managed to put more pressure on Evo's serve which finally told with the 2 breaks which was enough.

Third set was just all Evans, nothing got pass him except high and wide. I wouldn't say Frat was out on his feet but after second break his heart had gone.

Jan · Hall of fame

Just fantastic!
Well done Dan, so very pleased for him
Could well spring a surprise in R1.

-- Edited by Jan on Saturday 16th of January 2016 10:07:46 AM