Week 29 - ATP 500 - Citi Open, Washington, DC (hard)

Robin · Lower Club Player

Week 29 - ATP 500 - Citi Open, Washington, DC (hard)

thejester · Satellite level

Pretty major wobble from 5-2 40-0 up, but after engineering a 4th match point, Dan finally seals it on his 5th.
4 sets played. 4 sets won. Little over 2 hours on court thus far. 45 points and just shy of $20k in the bank.
Whatever the real reason, I'm glad Dan showed up in Washington DC rather than the DC tie in Serbia.

spud · Challenger qualifying

Fantastic effort

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

There may have been a wobble at the end, but that is a humungous win from Dan. Are you watching Leon ? I'll bet he is.

Don't you just love competition for places.

Very well played Dan.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Given all the challenges, it was surprising that Dimitrov failed to challenge the out call on bp at 4-2*, which the replay showed to have landed on the line.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Not a bad win for a guy with a dicky shoulder.

But seriously that was again very very good, Dimitrov is struggling and played a poor match, but Evo really just won with a bit of comfort, and could afford a little wobble at the end.

RJA · Hall of fame

Absolutely wonderful.

I know that Dimitrov is a mess at the moment but he has been in Washington for a week preparing for this event and made it clear that he was hoping to turn his season around here. Dan is just on fire at the moment and it is glorious to watch.

thejester · Satellite level

To be honest the wobble just made it more satisfying when Dan eventually crossed the line :)
With that win Dan moves up to GB no.3 behind Muzza and Bedene, and is now (provisionally) at 52 in the ATP race, precisely 1 point ahead of some bloke called Kyle Edmund.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

thejester wrote:
To be honest the wobble just made it more satisfying when Dan eventually crossed the line :)
With that win Dan moves up to GB no.3 behind Muzza and Bedene, and is now (provisionally) at 52 in the ATP race, precisely 1 point ahead of some bloke called Kyle Edmund.

He was just saying to Leon, "Anything Kyle can do, I can do too" - i.e handle the pressure.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I do sometimes wonder if the seeds that have a bye through R1 are at somewhat of a disadvantage in their R2 matches. Having a match win under your belt for the opponent does wonders for the confidence.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

For the record:

L32: Dan Evans WR 82 defeated (12) Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) WR 40 by 4 & 4 biggrin

thejester · Satellite level

Bob in Spain wrote:
thejester wrote:
To be honest the wobble just made it more satisfying when Dan eventually crossed the line :)
With that win Dan moves up to GB no.3 behind Muzza and Bedene, and is now (provisionally) at 52 in the ATP race, precisely 1 point ahead of some bloke called Kyle Edmund.
He was just saying to Leon, "Anything Kyle can do, I can do too" - i.e handle the pressure.

But of course, why didn't I think of that?! Personally I say we just give Andy another weekend off and play them both!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Next up for Dan is either Lukas Lacko who is eminently beatable for Dan on this form, or Jack Sock who is just back from his DC exertions which included a come from two set to love down win against Cilic and then suffered a 4 set defeat against Coric in the deciding rubber. I doubt he will be in the best of spirits.

RJA · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
Next up for Dan is either Lukas Lacko who is eminently beatable for Dan on this form, or Jack Sock who is just back from his DC exertions which included a come from two set to love down win against Cilic and then suffered a 4 set defeat against Coric in the deciding rubber. I doubt he will be in the best of spirits.

The courts here are quick which definitely suits Dan and certainly doesn't suit Sock. The American arguably has the heaviest forehand on the tour combining massive power and immense levels of top spin but he requires time to use it well. On clay and slow hard courts it is a devastating weapon but on quicker courts it is much less effective and his weaker backhand and poor movement is easier to expose.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
Next up for Dan is either Lukas Lacko who is eminently beatable for Dan on this form, or Jack Sock who is just back from his DC exertions which included a come from two set to love down win against Cilic and then suffered a 4 set defeat against Coric in the deciding rubber. I doubt he will be in the best of spirits.
The courts here are quick which definitely suits Dan and certainly doesn't suit Sock. The American arguably has the heaviest forehand on the tour combining massive power and immense levels of top spin but he requires time to use it well. On clay and slow hard courts it is a devastating weapon but on quicker courts it is much less effective and his weaker backhand and poor movement is easier to expose.

And there I was thinking you were talking about Kyle.